Let's stand up for our neighbors

“To flee in order to breathe freedom, life”—that’s how a famous long-ago neighbor, the conductor Arturo Toscanini, explained his immigrating to Riverdale in 1938 from Fascist Italy. Today, immigrants still find refuge here and across the Bronx. They arrive from troubled regions, settle in, and set about their lives, revitalizing our city, providing essential services and skills, making our economy hum and our culture thrive.

For all their contributions, immigrants now face all-out targeting, as the new administration mobilizes federal agencies and even the armed forces for mass deportations and militarization of the border. It’s no surprise: these actions make good (bad?) on campaign promises that falsely scapegoated all immigrants as criminals and a drain on the U.S. economy. The Executive Order to deny birthright citizenship issued on day one was a particular flex signaling an unbridled attack on the rights of immigrants—and on the Constitution.

These heightened threats make the passage of two pieces of NY State legislation—the New York for All Act (NY4All) and the Access to Representation Act—particularly urgent. They are currently stalled in the legislature, and so it’s time to call or write notes to Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Gustavo Rivera, both co-sponsors of these bills, to urge them to continue to advocate for their passage. By prohibiting state and local officers from enforcing federal immigration laws, funneling people into ICE custody, or sharing sensitive information with federal authorities, NY4All would provide a firewall against human rights violations. Additionally, the Access to Representation Act would help guarantee due process in immigration cases, upholding basic principles of justice and fairness.

Highly publicized raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have intensified in Boston, Newark, Chicago and right here in NYC, and many immigrants, whatever their status, are terrified of what’s next. After an Executive Order stripped away protection from federal enforcement in sensitive locations, many of our neighbors hesitate to send their kids to school, work jobs, or seek medical care. That's why it's so important for our NY legislators to push for passage of these bills and for Governor Hochul to sign them. And, why we should make clear to our US congressional representative, Ritchie Torres, that we object to his voting for the discriminatory Lakin Riley act, an early victory for GOP-led anti-immigrant forces. Only by remaining vigilant can we assure that our city, state, and federal officials continue to stand strong for immigrants. And, come election time, hold them accountable for acting on their principles.

There are also many ways for each of us to make a personal difference. The state-wide Immigration Rights Coalition lists volunteer opportunities for New York City, while the Community Resource Center and Neighbor's Link list opportunities and resources in nearby Westchester. Volunteers can, for example, accompany people to hearings, distribute know-your-rights information (the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs has these available in 11 languages on its website), offer translation services, teach ESL, or simply model kindness. We ourselves connect to updated information and calls to action through the Immigration Justice Committee of NYCD16/15 Indivisible which invites new members.

By standing up for our neighbors, and contacting our elected officials to urge them to continue to do the same, we can work to create a more just, vibrant, and compassionate New York for all.

Leslie Boden and Jerry Kisslinger