Immigration

Immigration Committee mission statement, 3/4/25

The immigration committee of UACT's mission is to protect and support immigrants in our community and nationwide, and to liaison with organizations whose missions reflect our own.

3/17 update:

Next immigration meeting, Tuesday March 25, 2 PM, 143 Huguenot St. 845-399-2473

Benefit for UIDN: March 30, 3-5:30, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 90 Rte 32S, New Paltz, Fundraiser for the Women's Academy of UIDN,  Music, Art, and Words (Music by Resisterhood, Shamsi Ruhe, Bobbi Esmark, Mala Hoffman)

SAVE THE DATES
National Immigrant Solidarity Rally at 7PM, Monday, 3/31 -- online

https://borderland.skylight.is/screening/national-immigrant-solidarity-rally-screening/

Can anyone host a watch party? The distributor is offering free streaming on March 29-30, prior to the virtual rally. (Pay-per-view is already available.)

Loving Immigrants, Liz Estes, St. John's, Red Hook, March 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v937gU1yqrQ video

Loving Immigrants slides: https://bit.ly/3XxsV20

Catholic Charities Immigration Attorney Jenifer Restrepo presented a KYR workshop at St. Joseph's, New Paltz, 3/10/25. Call 845-340-9170 for an appointment at their Kingston office. Some highlights:

KNOW THAT ICE LIES

    Only open your door if they have a judicial warrant (on court stationery, signed by a judge) that you can see WITHOUT opening the door.

They have impersonated "animal control" ("a raccoon was reported in your basement...")

They've said "you've been the target of identity theft."

They have pretended to be evangelists who want to share Bibles.

In Rockland County, they have impersonated contractors at Home Depot's  parking lot, entrapping day laborers 'shaping up' for casual work.

A federal non-citizen registry is pending; people will need to assess individual risks before they register.

Be cautious on social media.

Keep car registrations clean.  License readers are everywhere.

If you have a standing deportation order, the hammer can drop at any time. Keep checking your court dates if you have a pending date. They're playing games, changing dates without notice.

Make sure you have multiple copies of all relevant immigration documents, police reports, etc.

It is possible, but very hard, to get a 10 year visa. but only if you have a disabled child who will DIE if deported.

BEWARE OF PREDATORY IMMIGRATION LAWYERS. 

Ulster Rapid Response formed recently to respond to "immigration enforcement actions because we cannot be passive while the dignity and safety of our families and friends are at risk". URR will soon set up a bilingual hotline to report ICE sightings. To work, URR will need many more volunteers in many roles. Volunteers will verify if reported sightings are real, witness and document ICE actions, help determine if warrants are legal, ensure that those detained know their rights, and provide information about available support services for those who are left behind. 

The city of Kingston has reported several ICE sightings on its FB page, and has asked residents to report ICE's presence. Kingston has also posted UIDN's Know Your Rights info and related guidance.  Action idea:  We could ask the Town and Village to copy Kingston's model, and post confirmed local ICE activity.