MAHOPAC – Tempers flared at Thursday evening’s meeting of the Mahopac Board of Education when a group calling itself Peoples Immigrant Coalition, which has been protesting ICE agents removing both undocumented and documented individuals from streets in the greater Brewster-Carmel area, called on the school trustees to remove one of its members for serving as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
With a heavy police presence and attendees at the meeting forced to undergo body searches prior to entering the Mahopac Falls School, the protestors were outnumbered by supporters of Trustee Christopher Harrigan.
Harrigan has been captured on video several times since August 2025 and most recently last week, acting as an agent of ICE-ERO (Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations), arresting individuals in Brewster and Carmel.
The group charged that ICE violation of human and constitutional rights was in direct conflict with the school board’s mission to ensure the safety and education of all students.
Board of Education President Michael Mongon explained qualifications for a school trustee were established by state law and the trustee in question’s behavior did not disqualify him from serving on the board.
Speakers addressed both sides of the issue.
Ixmucane Pereira, speaking in Spanish, called on the trustees to represent the Spanish speaking community since children were being terrorized. “I’m worried about our children and their parents. I’m not here to judge the school board but you are representing our children,” she said.
Baila Lemonik described Harrigan’s job as an ICE agent as an “evil job but not with our children’s lives and our teachers lives at stake. Children are being separated from their parents. They are frightened and scared. Where is your empathy and compassion? Families are being ripped apart. How can you have a person like this on your school board?”
However, the majority of those addressing the trustees endorsed Harrigan including County Executive Kevin Byrne who called him an “elected representative. The reality is the law is serving us all. We in Putnam County stand with our people in law enforcement. Thank you for a job well done.”
Carmel Councilman Robert Kearns added, “Trustee Harrigan has dedicated himself to serving our country. He deserves our heartfelt support and respect.”
Putnam Legislator Erin Lee Crowley charged the allegations had “nothing to do with our school district. There is no evidence he violated any school or student policy. Political disagreements about federal policy have no place on a local school board. A trustee’s outside duties should not be used against him. He has a job.”
Others like Dawn described Harrigan as “dependable and engaged to our children.”
However, another resident of Mahopac alleged that Harrigan must not “discriminate against people as well as follow the code of students’ rights. He has violated this.”
But Marie Frankel called the attack on Harrigan as being “rogue. The man has worked tirelessly for this district.”
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