Enhanced security is expected at tonight’s Mahopac School Board meeting after word spread that pro-immigration advocates plan to attend and demand the resignation of Trustee Christopher Harrigan. The calls follow the circulation of social media videos showing Harrigan making arrests as an agent for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Activists said Harrigan, who served as a police officer before joining ICE, has been filmed making arrests in Brewster and Carmel. They argue his role disqualifies him from serving on the school board. Others counter that Harrigan—whose tenure with ICE predates his election to the Board of Education—is doing a dangerous and important job.
Assemblyman Matt Slater said Harrigan has spent decades in law enforcement and served under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
“He was duly elected and he's a 20-year law enforcement officer,” Slater told Mahopac News. “There's no way he should be pressured to step down.”
In a media statement released earlier today, Slater called it “both disgraceful and outrageous” to try to prevent a federal officer from serving on the school board. “Members of law enforcement who protect and serve our communities deserve our gratitude.”
Fellow Trustee Tanner McCracken defended Harrigan and criticized calls for his removal.
“Calling for an elected school board member’s removal because he enforces federal law is reckless and unserious. Chris Harrigan’s work with ICE is lawful, ethical, and entirely separate from his volunteer service to our schools. Political intimidation has no place at Board meetings that are about educating students,” McCracken said. “Chris is a man of character who serves both our nation and our school community. His job is difficult and dangerous, and our neighborhoods are safer because of it. I support individual rights in the context of the law. But these protests are not about rights. They are about opposing the lawful removal of violent criminals from our communities.
“I stand with School Board member Chris Harrigan.”
McCracken and fellow Trustee Ben DiLulo said the board was aware of the planned protests and were informed that the district was enhancing security. Neither was able to go into detail.
The meeting, a work session, is scheduled to begin in the PD Room at Falls Elementary School on Myrtle Avenue at 6:30 p.m. DiLulo said the meeting may move to the larger auditorium later in the proceedings.
Harrigan, who is listed as an ICE deportation officer on a LinkedIn profile bearing his name, was elected to the school board in 2024 after becoming involved as an opponent of mask mandates and other New York State Education Department and district policies during and immediately after COVID.
“Unfortunately, the school district was forced to comply with many stringent policies that New York State pushed that were harmful to our children’s health and education," Harrigan told Mahopac News before the 2024 election. "I felt a strong urge to get involved on behalf of our students and I did everything I could to return our students to a normal school experience.”
This is a developing story.
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