BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Federal agents conducted raids on at least three businesses in the village of Massena during the morning of May 20. 

Reports began circulating shortly after 8 a.m., with multiple posts on social media showing dozens of vehicles and federal agents, including marked Border Patrol agents and vehicles, as well as numerous unmarked vehicles at the locations on Beach Street and East Orvis. 

Requests for comment from federal agencies and the U.S. Attorney General were not immediately returned as of press time, however the Village of Massena Police Department did issue a statement. 

"The Massena Police Department is aware of a law enforcement operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration on May 20, at multiple locations within the village of Massena. At this time, there is no threat to public safety," Chief Cody Wilson said. 

"All inquiries and requests for additional information regarding this operation should be directed to the United States Attorney's Office. As this remains an active federal investigation, the Massena Police Department will have no further comment," Wilson said. 

Massena Police are assisting in the operation, he confirmed. 

The locations reportedly raided are all within the contested "Square Mile," a portion of the village of Massena that numerous tribal members and some entities have claimed ownership of in recent years. 

Village Mayor Greg Paquin has said on numerous occasions that the square mile "does not exist" and all entities therein are subject to all local, county, state and federal regulations, including village code and taxation. 

A land claim settlement between St. Lawrence County, Massena, Bombay, Fort Covington, Franklin County and New York State is currently pending in the U.S. Senate, where it has sat for five months after passing in the House of Representatives. 

Documents pertaining to the land claim state the square mile is not part of the settlement, though thousands of acres continuous to the reservation could potentially be reclaimed by the Akwesasne Tribe if a sale were to occur and specific processes were undertaken. 

The operation comes just weeks after Governor Kathy Hochul and many state lawmakers pushed to strike down 287(g) agreements in a move they say is in direct retribution of federal immigration operations, in particular those undertaken by ICE. 

With language in the pending state budget bills, such agreements would be rendered illegal and in essence would outlaw local, county and state police agencies from cooperating with federal agencies. 

White House Border Czar Tom Homan issued a statement shortly after Hochul announced the pending legislation, saying ICE would "flood the streets of New York" if state lawmakers adopted the legislation.