By Bill Parry
Calling the last few months “uncertain times for our country,” U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) opened an immigration town hall at the new Elmhurst Community Library Saturday to discuss President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders on immigration. A panel of experts including attorneys from the Legal Aid Society and advocates from the New York Immigration Coalition, Make the Road New York and the Black Institute were on hand to share information and advice about the so-called Muslim ban and the rights of undocumented and documented immigrants with more than 100 of Meng’s constituents.
“We are getting a lot of calls about all sorts of different topics. A lot of them are from legal immigrants,” Meng said. “People are worried, wanting to know if they should travel. Even Green Card holders. A lot of these are folks with legal status and are afraid they or their family could be detained or deported. I even got a question the other day wondering if they could travel to another state. People have questions and we want them to get their answers from credible sources.”
Bertha Lewis, the former president and CEO of ACORN, an advocacy group for low-income people, and currently the founder and president of The Black Institute, a think tank for the black perspective, had a dire warning.
“The nightmares and crazy scenarios that people thought would never happen here are now happening here,” she said. “People are in danger. This is a serious situation. While my focus is on black immigrants, every person in this room is in this war and no one is left out. You can’t take a pass.”
Deisy Flores of Make the Road New York spoke of the need for credible information. She described the fear and panic that spread with false rumors of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents last month.
“ICE is a very big fear in my community of Jackson Heights and Corona,” she said. “Right now you have to know what to do if ICE comes to your door. You must know how to prepare if tweets about raids and checkpoints on Junction Boulevard turn out to be real.”
Steven Sacco and Antonia Codling of the Legal Aid Society went on at length about how one should act if stopped and questioned by ICE agents or officers from the NYPD.
“If you are arrested, do not say anything except you want to see a lawyer,” Sacco said. “And beware of Notarios and other people who are not qualified immigration practitioners. If applications are prepared wrong, that can lead to your removal. Remember, the government has enormous discretion. You can be removed without the benefit of even seeing a judge, they’ll just put you on a plane.”
Codling had advice on how to act if stopped by law enforcement officials.
“If you are stopped, remain calm and do not run,” she said. “Do your best to regain your composure and do not make any sudden movements for your own personal safety. The only things you must say is your name, your address and your date of birth. If you lie they will find out and it is a crime to lie to an officer about those three things. After those three question, if the officer asks you where you were born, do not answer and wait for an attorney.”
Also Saturday, City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) hosted a free citizenship application workshop at LaGuardia Community College. He was joined by CUNY Citizenship Now, the New Americans Campaign, and immigration lawyers and professionals who helped more than 100 individuals on their path to U.S. citizenship.
“The volunteers, attorneys, and staff at our citizenship application assistance workshop helped make the dreams of over 100 attendees a reality,” Van Bramer said. “There is no greater joy than helping hardworking members of our community overcome enormous and intimidating barriers to finally become citizens in our country.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
