Last week five people were picked up by ICE right here in Delaware County.
Since Donald Trump has taken office, ICE, the most well-funded federal law enforcement agency, has been wreaking havoc on immigrant communities in this country. Families are ripped apart, people are deported back to the countries they fled for their lives from. Immigrant communities are terrorized, arrested, and without due process, sent to overcrowded, unhealthy detention centers. Immigrants are even being arrested when they appear at immigration courts for their hearings. And all this is being paid for with taxpayer money.
In New York state, there is a legislative solution that will make life easier for our immigrant neighbors. Its is the New York For All Act. This prohibits contracts between state and local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration agents. It prevents local law enforcement agencies from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants and renting out jail space to ICE.
The New York for All Act prohibits ICE from entering nonpublic areas of all government-run offices. State and local agencies (schools, hospitals, and shelters) are prohibited from sharing information with ICE. Local law enforcement agents cannot ask about immigration status, and people in custody must be told of their rights. There is no expiration date for this Act.
We need to protect our neighbors. Many immigrants are afraid to go out of their houses. That means they are not going to work, sending their kids to school or even going shopping for groceries. Now, more than ever, it is important to contact Governor Hochul, and state representatives asking that they support the NY For All Act.
Wendy Barckhaus
Treadwell
