With fears of deportation engulfing immigrant communities, an information session addressing those concerns was organized, with a veteran immigration lawyer telling a Norwood crowd to get organized.
Sharron Williams, a former Norwood resident who now runs the California-based JINA Immigration Legal Services, led the Feb. 23 workshop at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center. She reiterated the uptick in raids launched by agents from Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE), which have rattled communities comprised of the foreign-born.
For immigrants to get ahead of this, Williams ran through some of the many visas that the government offers, as well as some that might be discontinued given the tough immigration policies issued by the new Trump Administration.
“Staying inside and hiding out is not going to help. Research what your rights are, that is critical,” said Williams. “Have the phone number of an immigration lawyer, make a family plan to take care of your children and the elderly. It is important to get everything in order. It could be chaos if you don’t.”
The veteran lawyer urged the audience to get themselves to an immigration lawyer to take their issues into their own hands. “It has gone from a time of hope to a time a terror,” Williams said directly.
The workshop, sponsored by Councilman Andrew Cohen, attracted residents from the neighborhood, along with a Spanish translator helping Williams.
“Know the status of your situation. It’s important to know if you’ve been ordered deported because if you’re walking around with an outstanding order of deportation, then you are immediately removable,” Williams said sharply. “Too many people don’t know their status and are scared. When they get the notice of deportation, the best thing for them is to go to court.”
The meeting coincided with a 52nd Precinct Community Council meeting, which hosted immigration attorneys from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. Miriam Bell-Blair, an assistant district attorney and head of the DA’s Immigration Affairs Unit, encouraged attendees to report crimes regardless of status. “We’re not the federal government,” said Bell-Blair. “And we do not call ICE to say, ‘This person lives on (East 204th Street], can you pick them up?”
Keeping with a hardline pro-immigration policy pushed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, a major critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, the NYPD emphasized that it is not colluding with ICE agents in rounding up illegal immigrations.
“We are the police, we are not immigration, we are not ICE, we are not border patrol,” said Det. June Cortez, with the precinct’s Community Affairs Unit. “We do not deport people. We want them to come forward to make a report and not be scared, even if you’re a victim of a crime. Please step forward.
A SPANISH INTERPRETER (r) works with veteran immigration attorney Sharron Williams at a know your rights information session.
Photo by Deborah Cruz