- Nick LaLota has consistently prioritized public safety and border security, viewing a secure border as essential to addressing crime, drug trafficking, and national security concerns (Dans Papers, Patch).
- LaLota has advocated for reinstating Trump-era border policies, such as "Remain in Mexico," and has supported resuming construction of the southern border wall (Newsday).
- He has expressed deep concern about the impact of fentanyl and other drugs linked to border security issues, emphasizing the connection between immigration policy, public health, and community well-being (Statesman: SUNY, Stony Brook).
- In 2015, LaLota opposed Syrian refugee resettlement in Amityville due to security fears, questioned the federal vetting process, and signed a letter urging caution, though he supported charity for refugees overseas (Newsday, Amityville Record).
- LaLota has received praise from local Republican leaders for his border security stance, but his strong opposition to refugee resettlement and skepticism about vetting may be viewed as controversial or a vulnerability among some constituents (Newsday, Amityville Record).
- LaLota denied claims that he mocked a bipartisan border bill at the urging of Donald Trump, maintaining his independent stance on border legislation (Newsday).
LaLota Cited Public Safety And Border Security As Top Priorities According to Dans Papers, “Public safety is a basic necessity,” he says. “All Long Islanders should have a reasonable expectation of living in a safe neighborhood, which is why we must work with, support and respect the role of law enforcement so they can most effectively serve and protect our communities. We need to talk about our border when discussing public safety, because the porous border is the root of many public safety issues we are facing; the open border is a national security issue and it must be closed before we can reasonably tackle the immigration, human trafficking and drug crises.” [Dans Papers, 1/8/23]
Nick LaLota Maintained Focus On Securing The Border And Lowering Costs As Of 2024 According to Patch, "Securing the border is essential to keeping our communities safe, especially from dangerous drugs like fentanyl and criminal activity. I’ll continue to push for strong border security measures that protect our families [...]. Lowering costs and improving affordability are critical to helping Long Island families thrive." [Patch, 10/23/24]
2015: Nick LaLota Opposed Syrian Refugee Resettlement In Amityville According to Newsday (New York), "Village trustee Nick LaLota said he worries about terrorists sneaking in. 'We fear a 'Trojan horse' scenario where one terrorist individual could disguise himself amongst many good, innocent people, and that's the risk we're not willing to take,' LaLota said." [Newsday (New York), 11/19/15]
2015: Nick LaLota Expressed Skepticism Over Federal Vetting Of Refugees According to Newsday (New York), "But, LaLota said, 'Until such time where federal officials can prove that their vetting process takes into account thoroughly our local residents' safety, we remain skeptical.'" [Newsday (New York), 11/19/15]
2015: Nick LaLota And Amityville Officials Promoted Charity Drive For Syrian Refugees Overseas According to Newsday (New York), "He added that village officials 'share in Catholic Charities' compassion toward these individuals, and that's why we are promoting a charity drive to send money to Syrian refugees overseas.'" [Newsday (New York), 11/19/15]
2015: Nick LaLota Signed Letter Opposing Syrian Refugee Resettlement In Amityville According to Amityville Record, "the letter, which was signed by Amityville Village Mayor James P. Wandell and Trustees Jessica Thole Bernius and Nick LaLota, stated. [...] 'Though we are empathetic to innocents who seek escape from the hardships of war, we urge you to keep that war away from communities like ours,'" [Amityville Record (New York), 11/25/15]
2015: Nick LaLota Expressed Support For Resident Safety Amid Refugee Concerns According to Amityville Record, '"Aren't we about providing safety for our residents?" countered LaLota sharply.' [Amityville Record (New York), 11/25/15]
2024: Jesse Garcia Stated LaLota Had Accumulated A Record Of Securing The Border And Fighting For Middle Class Residents According to Newsday (New York), "Jesse Garcia, chairman of the Suffolk County Republican Committee, said LaLota 'has accumulated a record of securing our border and being an independent fighter for middle class residents on Long Island.'" [Newsday (New York), 2/21/24]
2023: LaLota Supported Reinstating Trump-Era Border Policies and Expanding the Border Wall According to Newsday, "LaLota said Congress should reinstate Trump-era border policies like 'Remain in Mexico' for those seeking asylum. He also highlighted a bill passed by the Republican-controlled House in May 2023 that would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to resume the construction of a wall along the southern border." [Newsday (New York), 10/22/24]
LaLota Denied Mocking Bipartisan Border Bill at Trump's Urging According to Newsday, "Avlon said LaLota mocked the bill at the urging of Trump, a claim LaLota denied following the debate." [Newsday (New York), 10/22/24]
October 2024: Nick LaLota Expressed Concern Over The Southern Border, Fentanyl Deaths, And State Budget Decisions Impacting Long Island Schools According to Statesman: SUNY, Stony Brook, "LaLota answered questions on a variety of pressing issues, including the situation at the southern border, the rise in fentanyl-related deaths and the significant strain on Long Island schools from recent state budget decisions. He expressed deep concern over these issues, stressing the need for comprehensive policy measures to secure the border and protect local education funding." [Statesman: SUNY, Stony Brook, 10/31/24]
2015: Nick LaLota Urged Prompt Action On Refugee Letter According to Amityville Record, '"You have had this 72 hours," said LaLota. "Do you want to take another week for this while our residents become more fearful?" [...] "I am impulsive about protecting our residents," said LaLota.' [Amityville Record (New York), 11/25/15]
2023: Suffolk County GOP Chairman Praised Nick LaLota’s Advocacy For Border Security And Opposition To SALT Cap Extension According to Newsday, "Suffolk County GOP Chairman Jesse Garcia said LaLota is a 'committed and dedicated fighter for Long Island families' who has advocated for securing the southern border and opposed his party's efforts to extend the $10,000 SALT cap for deductions of state and local taxes on federal income tax returns." [Newsday (New York), 10/5/23]