Police Commissioner James O'Neil swinging a cricket bat recently showcased the NYPD's effort to build bridges to the Muslim community by sponsoring youth cricket and soccer leagues.

O'Neill says the blue uniform must reflect the city's colorful tapestry and that painting immigrants as a danger is wrong.    

"I don't think it's helpful. I think people need to be treated as individuals and we definitely need it to have a police department that represents the diversity of this city," O'Neill said.

Detective Ahmed Nasser represents that diversity. He joined the NYPD nearly 20 years ago and co-founded the department's Muslim Officer Society, a fraternal organization for the more than 1,000 Muslim NYPD cops.

"Even though I was born in Yemen when I came to this country I consider myself an American. I came and I pledged the allegiance to be a part of this country and to be a member of this society. So to me I am an American a hundred percent," Nasser said.

After successfully applying for a visa, Nasser immigrated to the U.S. in 1986 and became a citizen before joining the NYPD.

Several of Nasser's relatives are police officers too, including his son, who graduated from the police academy in April.

But Nasser likely wouldn't be allowed to enter the United States today. 

Yemen is one of the seven countries - five of them Muslim Majority - that are part of President Donald Trump's travel ban which dramatically restricts travel from them to the U.S.

"It is difficult and it affects a lot of people. And I am speaking on behalf of myself, Ahmed Nasser, a US citizen I think it is very hard. I know people who have relatives back home and they're not able to get here. And it is difficult," Nasser said.

Mohamed Amen also is an NYPD detective and very active in the Muslim community.

"I was one of the lucky winners of the lottery visa which is a random select if you apply for it and then you are granted legal status here which will lead to citizenship which it led to," Amen said.

President Trump has proposed eliminating the green card lottery system, saying it enables the worst of the worst to get into the country. 

But as a member of the NYPD, Amen feels he and other immigrant officers are the best of the best. 

"When we all wear the uniform when we are all a part of the NYPD, we help everybody  regardless of their race religion or national origin. we are here to serve and protect everyone basically," said Amen. "Me as a Muslim officer, proud of being Muslim, proud of being American and a member of the service it doesn't make me less than anyone else."

And he says many younger immigrants want to be proud Americans as well and possibly the NYPD, like he did.