Road Closures, Safety Concerns Addressed For President Trump's Visit To Long Island: Officials

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — With President Donald Trump's visit to Long Island on Friday, Nassau County residents will experience road closures and increased safety procedures in the vicinity, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a press conference.

Trump will be touring law enforcement facilities, including the Nassau County Police Academy Center for Training and Intelligence on Law Enforcement Way and the Bolla Training Village, in Garden City, Friday afternoon, according to Blakeman.

Some tickets will be available to the public for the president's remarks by registering online via a White House link before the end of the day on Thursday. People may register for up to two tickets per phone number, and tickets are available on a limited basis.

"We're just proud that the president is coming here to honor," Blakeman said in a press conference on Thursday morning. "This will be a very exciting day in Nassau County. We are very proud to host President Trump tomorrow."

Blakeman spoke about Trump's upcoming visit and the increased police presence and safety measures.

There will be street closures and increased traffic in Garden City and surrounding areas, such as East Meadow, Uniondale, Hempstead, and Mineola, Blakeman said. They will not be detailing the closures due to safety issues, Blakeman said.

The closures will be from 1 to 5 p.m., and Blakeman encouraged those to avoid the area. There will be a "tremendous amount of police presence," Blakeman said.

"We are working very closely with the Secret Service to make sure this is a safe event for everybody, not just the president, but all those who are attending and everybody who lives or works in the surrounding areas," Blakeman said.

Blakeman added that the NCPD will devote its aviation unit, its BOS team (SWAT team), and the coordination will be done by the Special Investigation Squad (S.I.S). He said that Highway Patrol, fire marshals, local firefighters, Nassau County Police ambulances, and more units will be on alert as well.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder spoke at the conference and said they are planning as "be prepared for the unprepared."

Ryder said that event gates open at 12 p.m., and until the time the president leaves, the place will be basically in lockdown.

"It will be the safest place in the country that day," he said.

Ryder added it is preferable to leave bags in the car, and once a person enters the venue, they will be unable to leave.

"If you can avoid the area, avoid the area," Ryder said. "It's 5 oclock on a Friday in the summer, and if that's the time the event ends, then that's the time it ends, and we have to make sure we get the president out of there safely. That's our biggest concern."

For those with approved tickets to the event, Ryder said they can arrive off Stewart Avenue by Endo Road. Nassau Community College is closed on Friday, so there will be plenty of parking, he confirmed.

Nassau County Police Department told Patch it could not detail road closures due to security concerns.

In a statement Monday, Blakeman said Trump will be paying tribute to members of the county's law enforcement community. The county executive said he is thankful that the president is expected to visit this week.

"I am grateful that President Trump is coming to Nassau County to tour our outstanding, state-of-the-art law enforcement facilities and pay tribute to the men and women of our Police Department, Sheriff's Department, Probation Department, and our firefighters for their outstanding efforts to protect our county, state, and country," Blakeman said.

There will also be a rally outside the NCPD for Training & Intelligence.

The rally is hosted by local community organizers, immigrant rights advocates and faith leaders who will gather at a designated "free speech" zone, according to a media advisory. Some organizations include New York Communities for Change, New York Immigration Coalition, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and more.

Hazel Leon, a community organizer and advocate for South Nassau County, said she encourages people to join the rally to "protest Trump."

Leon spoke on immigration matters, citing it as one of the reasons for the rally and to speak out against Trump's arrival on Long Island.

"It's time to fix our immigration system," Leon said.

Leon said the rally will be at 2 p.m. at Endo Drive and Perimeter Road, in Uniondale and the free speech zone will be available all day Friday starting at 10 a.m.