EXCLUSIVE: NYC Faith Leaders Connect To Provide Assistance To Migrant Families In Their Communities With Knowledge Of Legal Rights, Grounded in Teachings From Various Religious Traditions

February 1, 2025 Interfaith Center of New York & New York State Council of Churches 0 American Culture, Babies and Kids, Charity, Civil Rights, Culture, Equality, Local Voices, Media and Communication, Morality and Ethics, New York City News, News, Politics, SI Communities, Staten Island Culture, Staten Island Families, Staten Island News, Staten Islander Exclusive

“Faith Communities Against Deportation” Consultation & Plea for Ravi Ragbir’s Pardon

Editor’s note: We previously covered the announced closure of multiple migrant shelters across the city. Rev. Breyer from the Interfaith Center of NY also provided us with a commentary on accepting these new New Yorkers and making them feel welcome. She discusses faith traditions that encourage acceptance of migrants, particularly those fleeing persecution as refugees. CATO Institute also provided some insight into the extraordinary cost that would be associated with mass deportations.

Faith leaders, legal experts and community groups gathered to discuss how to protect migrant community members ahead of potential ICE raids, grounded in teachings from different religious traditions and knowledge of legal rights.

The first panel was on Abrahamic perspectives on immigration and protecting our neighbors with the Rt. Rev. Matt Heyd, the Episcopal Bishop of New York, Imam Kabba, Imam of Masjid-ur-Rahmah and Adama Bah of Afrikana. They discussed the teachings from Christianity and Islam on why it is essential to recognize the human dignity of all, regardless of immigration status, and extend care and compassion rooted in common principles and narratives recounted from the Bible and Qur’an

The second panel was a group of legal experts including Donna Leiberman of NYCLU, Alina Das of NYU Law School and Harold Solis of Make the Road. They shared guidance on how to deal with ICE raids, when you have to cooperate and when you are able to use your rights to protect others. For example, knowing when your spaces are private property rather than public lets you plan accordingly for caring for migrant communities because ICE is required to have a warrant to enter private property.

This was followed by neighborhood breakout groups where attendees set up group chats to coordinate to support migrants and undocumented folks in their communities. A main goal of the convening was to connect groups and community members engaged in the work of caring for and protecting migrants to each other so they can more effectively support their communities. The convening ended with a Know Your Rights interactive training where the groups walked through simulated situations in dealing with ICE officers and how to properly exercise your rights in those situations.