By Darian Stevenson
syracuse.com
OSWEGO, N.Y. — The state Attorney General’s Office has requested information from Oswego city officials about a nearly six-hour standoff involving Border Patrol agents and two men who took refuge on the roof of a home last month.
During the standoff on Sept. 30, Oswego firefighters brought in a ladder requested by the Border Patrol agents and put it up on the home. Police officers stood between agents and protesters, at times ordering protesters to back off.
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The AG’s Office of Immigration Trust sent an inquiry to the city’s police chief after residents called the state about the city’s involvement in the standoff, Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino said in a statement. New York state makes it illegal for local police to assist federal agents in non-criminal immigration actions.
The request was informal, Corradino said. No official letter was sent. The attorney general’s office requested police body camera footage, 911 recordings, police incident reports and other information to help review the incident, he said.
“There’s no accusation,” Corradino said. “It was a fact-finding request. They just want the facts.”
Alexis Richards, a spokesperson for the AG, confirmed that AG staff had been in contact with Oswego, but declined to provide additional details about the inquiry.
Corradino said the city attorney has asked the Common Council for permission to hire outside legal counsel to help the city respond to the state’s inquiries.
The mayor said he did not believe the city or its employees violated any federal, state or local laws during the standoff.
The standoff began shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 when U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents attempted to detain two men who had been working on a nearby home.
The men fled to the roof of a home at 261 E. Seventh St., where they remained for nearly six hours as federal agents attempted to take them into custody.
More than 70 protesters gathered outside the home throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Many shouted at federal agents to leave the men alone.
Oswego police and firefighters also responded to the scene.
Corradino said police initially responded after officials at nearby Riley Elementary School raised concerns about student safety as dismissal time approached.
Officers also responded to 911 calls from residents concerned about the growing crowd of protesters and those who were yelling and gathering on private property, Corradino said.
City officials said James Napoli, the Border Patrol agent in charge, requested a ladder from local police and fire officials.
Corradino said firefighters responded to help the men get off the roof safely, not to assist federal agents with immigration enforcement.
Four firefighters carried a 30-foot ladder to the home but removed it after the men resisted having it placed against the building, he said.
He said firefighters left after realizing the men did not want to come down.
“The fire department, when called upon, goes to help people,” Corradino said. “That was their only mission that day.”
Oswego police officers remained at the scene, standing between protesters and the property. Corradino said city police were not assisting federal agents with law enforcement activities.
Federal agents abandoned their effort to detain the men and left the scene around 7:30 p.m. Protesters helped the two men down from the roof. The men got into a vehicle and left the neighborhood around 8:30 p.m.
Oswego police remained in the area until at least 9 p.m., speaking with neighbors and asking people to leave.
Corradino said the city previously retained Barclay Damon LLP to assist with a similar matter and that he supports hiring outside legal counsel to respond to the latest inquiry.
The Common Council is expected to consider the city attorney’s request at its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. A public session is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., when residents can address the council.
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