A pair of Democratic Nassau County lawmakers are suing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and county Sheriff Anthony LaRocco to put an end to their special deputy sheriffs program.

Legislators Debra Mulé and Scott Davis said the county is violating general municipal law, which prevents the county from using public funds and resources to deputize private citizens as provisional sheriff's deputies. They also claim the county has stonewalled information from lawmakers by refusing to comply with Freedom of Information Law requests.

"The county is not allowed to hand badges to private citizens, pronounce them to be members of law enforcement and authorize them to wield force on behalf of the government," part of the lawsuit reads.

Last March, Blakeman and LaRocco announced the program, which opponents have dubbed their private militia, to screen and train armed Nassau residents that the county could call on to assist police during an emergency declaration.

The county swore in the first group of two dozen members last December.

The lawsuit claims the county not only lacks the power to create such a program but cannot allocate taxpayer money without first obtaining legislature approval.

"Defendants' creation of an armed force whose members have been improperly trained to believe that they will have authority to use deadly force and make arrests poses a threat to members of the public and law enforcement," part of the lawsuit reads.

On Tuesday, Blakeman held a press conference designating 10 county detectives to carry out immigration enforcement alongside federal law enforcement partners. News 12 Long Island's Krista McNally asked Blakeman whether he could declare an immigration emergency to activate the deputies to also carry out immigration enforcement.

"Stop with the special agents they have nothing to do with this," Blakeman said in response.

News 12 reached out to Blakeman's office this morning for a comment on the lawsuit but has not heard back at this time.

Later this morning, Democratic county lawmakers and civil rights attorneys will hold a press conference to address the lawsuit and next steps.