U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents apprehended two people during a grant-funded seat belt check stop in Cohoes on Friday, three days after taking two other people into custody in a targeted action in Catskill, according to the federal agency and local authorities.

According to Cohoes officials, ICE arrested two men – one from Ecuador and one from Mexico – during vehicle stops on Ontario Street at the foot of the 112th Street Bridge.

“The multi-agency detail included local, state and federal law enforcement agencies – including ICE,” Mayor William Keeler said in a statement. “As mayor, I put public safety above politics. My top priority is protecting the people of Cohoes and welcome the support of all law enforcement agencies in that regard.”

ICE released a statement in response to an inquiry.

“All daily routine operations, including those in Cohoes, New York, are consistent with efforts to prioritize the apprehension and removal of individuals who pose significant threats to public safety or who have final orders of removal issued by a federal immigration judge; however, all aliens who remain in the U.S. without a lawful immigration status may be subject to arrest and removal. For such aliens, the safest and most efficient option is self-deportation.”

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a statement it was outrageous that state and local law enforcement would collude with ICE to separate New York families.

“What should have been a simple vehicle inspection event turned into one that will cause fear and uncertainty for immigrants across the state, who will now have to second guess every interaction they have with local law enforcement,” he said.

A Cohoes spokesperson said the checkpoint on Friday resulted in 116 tickets issued and a handful of towed vehicles.

In a separate statement, ICE said it and federal partners apprehended two people – a previously deported immigration fugitive with a final order of removal and one violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act – during a targeted enforcement action in Catskill on Tuesday.

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is actively investigating immigration crimes in cities across northern, western and central New York State,” an ICE spokesperson said.