New York's Erie County axes DHS job fair over ICE's role, drawing backlash: 'Totally inappropriate'

A Buffalo-area Republican accused Democratic Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz of overstepping his authority after the Buffalo Convention Center canceled a two-day Department of Homeland Security career expo set to begin Tuesday, because officials objected to U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's participation and warned of possible protests.

"The county executive has completely surpassed his power and authority.

This was totally inappropriate for him to call on the management of the convention center to cancel this event," Republican Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Lorigo said she understood discussions about the event were continuing and hoped the center would reverse its decision .

She said vendors had invested time and local labor into the expo’s setup.

DEMOCRATIC MAYOR BLASTED BY DHS FOR 'HUNTING DOWN' PROPERTY OWNERS LEASING TO ICE: 'UNHINGED' "I have had discussions with vendors that are already set up there," Lorigo said.

"They’re concerned that they’re going to have to close down their business because they can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but now they don’t know who’s going to pay the bill." "I think he is blowing the safety concern out of the water," she added.

DHS sharply defended ICE in a statement to Fox News Digital on Friday and rejected criticism as political.

"Our agents are focused on protecting the American people — not entertaining performative outrage.

Where is the outrage for Angel families who lost a loved one to illegal alien crime?" a DHS spokesperson said.

"To most Americans, our brave ICE law enforcement are heroes.

80% of Americans support arresting and deporting criminal illegal aliens from American neighborhoods." AMERICA NEEDS WORKERS, BUT TRUMP'S POLICIES ARE SHARPLY CUTTING LEGAL IMMIGRATION A May Harvard CAPS/Harris online survey found 80% supported deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally and committed crimes.

USAJOBS described the expo as the department’s premier large-scale hiring event.