Protestors Arrested Declaring NYC an Ice-Free Zone, in Push-Back Against Obama s New Year s Resolution To Deport Central American Refugees with The ICE-FREE NYC campaign, comprised of New Yorkers of all Backgrounds Who Want Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Completely Out of Our City
In response to the ongoing raids of non-citizens and the announcement of raids against Central American refugees immigrant rights advocates, labor unions, faith-based groups, and community members gathered to say NO to raids, demand and end to deportations and announce the creation of ICE-FREE Zones throughout New York City. First, Obama, already known in immigrant communities as the Deporter-in-Chief, announced the deportation priority program called Priority Enforcement Program (PEP). Shortly after the announcement of PEP, home raids in NYC increased at an alarming rate. Then, on December 26, 2015, Obama s Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) announced nationwide raids aimed at deporting the primarily women and children, many of whom are refugees who fled some of the most violent regions in the world, in particular Central America. But, the ICE-FREE NYC campaign demands that the Department of Corrections and New York Police Department must end all collaboration with ICE, prohibit the sharing of information about New Yorkers between ICE and all City agencies that may reveal an individuals immigration status.The ICE-FREE NYC campaign stands in solidarity and will put their bodies on the line to protect immigrant/ refugee families and create ICE-FREE Zones within NYC's five boroughs and Long Island.
Produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg
please notify us if you plan to broadcast this program- knash@igc.org