Know Your Rights: New York City Holds Classes for Illegals Who Fear Deportation
'16.01.2025'
ForumDaily New York
In New York, amid fears of deportation, there has been a boom in classes to educate immigrants about their rights. Gothamist explains what you need to know to communicate with federal immigration officials.
When Donald Trump was first elected president eight years ago, students stopped coming to the free weekly English classes at Sunset Park, said Pedro Torres, a teaching assistant at the time.
"We will prepare them for the worst case scenario."
Many students, mostly Spanish-speaking adult immigrants, are worried about possible reprisals. Armed with that knowledge, Torres organized “Know Your Rights” workshops for students ahead of Trump’s second inauguration.
“We need to prepare people for what needs to be done,” said Torres, now the head English teacher at the Fifth Avenue Committee, a nonprofit that offers English classes and other programs.
"We will prepare them for the worst-case scenario," he assured.
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Across the city, schools, libraries, and community groups are offering classes to arm undocumented immigrants with the knowledge they need to know what to do and what not to do when interacting with federal immigration officials ahead of Trump’s promised crackdown on immigrants to the United States.
Demand increased after the elections
Potential local audience seminars significant. A report from the mayor's office on immigrant affairs last year estimated that there were about 2022 illegal immigrants living in the city as of 412.
In a typical human rights session, participants learn about their right to remain silent during interrogations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, as well as the documents ICE officers may present when attempting to enter their home.
“This is the most powerful community tool we can use to keep people out of the detention and deportation system,” said Wennie Chin, director of community and civil society engagement at the New York Immigration Coalition.
Since the presidential election in November, requests for Know Your Rights sessions have tripled, she says. Since then, the nonprofit has increased weekly sessions from two to five. It has had to turn down requests for more because of space constraints.
Make the Road New York typically hosts a Know Your Rights session once a quarter. The organization has held more than a dozen since Election Day.
The city's Department of Education also held similar sessions for immigrant families, as well as administrators and staff at schools with the educational nonprofit Project Rousseau. The department is required to hold "Know Your Rights" sessions annually under a 2017 law that requires disseminating information about families' rights, such as when students can refuse to talk to non-local law enforcement. The law also requires providing resources to help families seeking legal assistance. help on immigration issues.
Practical advice
Recently, at Sunset Park Church, where Torres' group holds weekly English classes, students learned how to interact with ICE agents, who are responsible for enforcing immigration in the United States.
Coach Janice Nortia told the class that ICE agents may show up at their homes or businesses without uniforms and in unmarked vehicles. They are known to lie or use tricks to gain entry to someone's home or business or to make arrests.
Those present were told of their right to remain silent when questioned by police and immigration agents. Spanish-speaking immigrants, reading from an instruction card, practiced in English what they should say to immigration agents when they knocked on their door.
"I want to exercise my right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment," one student said, reading from a card.
“I don’t want to talk to you or answer questions,” said another participant.
"I do not allow you to enter my house without a warrant signed by a judge," was another possible response from the young man.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents need permits or warrants to enter people's homes, the trainer said. However, ICE agents can claim to have such warrants.
Often these are administrative orders from the agency, which have less force, the trainer explained to the students.
A 30-year-old Mexican immigrant took a photo of an example of a court order on his phone and shared it with the group. One of the people present wrote down the name and number of the local police station.hot line, which can be called to report immigration police raids.
Participants often have misconceptions about their rights and mistakenly believe that they must provide police with all personal information.
"There's a misconception that illegal immigrants are not protected by the constitution," Torres said. "That's not true at all."
Search for loved ones
Participants often ask how to find a loved one who has been detained by ICE agents. They want to know what happens to their bank account if they are arrested. Another concern: What happens when a parent is deported and their children are left behind?
To find detainees, ICE has online search toolAdvocates advise that family and friends know the A-Numbers or Alien Numbers of their loved ones to do this.
Bank accounts should remain open after deportation. Trainers suggest that parents appoint temporary guardians to care for their children in the short term without permanent legal custody.
Information on what you need to know about your rights is also available on websites New York Immigration Coalition, In theMigrant Defense Project и Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.
As one of the Sunset Park students, 36-year-old Johnny from Ecuador, admitted, he was initially overcome with fear about what to expect from the next day.
“Now I have an idea of what to do, how to prepare for any given situation,” he concluded.