Advocates vow to fight for the rights of NYC immigrants
NEW YORK (PIX11) — There's no denying migrants in New York City are terrified, staying away from school, church, and work – to avoid arrest during an ICE immigration raid.
In fact, we learned Thursday that Edgar, a restaurant cook we recently interviewed for PIX11 Community CloseUp, told us although he liked his job, he quit out of fear just days after our interview.
More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State
It is in this ever-intensifying atmosphere that ICE agents' field tactics specifically, what places are off limits once again dominate the collective conversation about where migrants can feel safe in New York City.
Most places of work are not on that list.
But immigration advocates, gathering at Manhattan's St. Mark's Church Thursday to condemn the Trump Administration for disregarding a 'sensitive location' designation for other locations.
'This is part and parcel of the mass deportation agenda,' said NY Immigration Coalition president Murad Awawdeh.
The Homeland Security memo released on Jan. 21 reads in part:
'Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.'
NYC mayor downplays economic concerns of Trump deportation plan
In Brooklyn, Thursday, councilmember Zellnor Myrie – one of Mayor Eric Adams' expected primary rivals, accused the administration of not doing enough to discourage local cooperation with federal agents.
He zeroed in on the inclusion of a final sentence in a recent City Hall memo detailing guidance for city employees – especially at hospitals, which reads:
'You cannot take affirmative steps that are intended to help a person avoid being found by ICE.'
'That sentence should be removed,' said Myrie. 'You have to ask yourself why was it included in the first place?'
A City Hall spokesperson fired back Thursday:
'The claim that New York City is instructing city employees to cooperate with ICE for civil enforcement spreads misinformation that only fuels anxiety within immigrant communities. We are responsible for safeguarding the well-being of our city staff, which is why we have directed city employees not to put themselves in harm's way during federal immigration enforcement interactions. Employees are advised to contact their legal counsel in such situations and to avoid verbal or physical altercations…'
32-BJ SEIU, one of the city's largest unions, also put out a news release criticizing the Adams Administration guidance for city employees in homeless shelters. A City Hall spokesperson offered the same response as above.
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