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20190807_ICE_WorksiteEnforcementOpMS_8087

ICE should not be at recent protests

For Immediate Release  
Contact: bpacheco@nylag.org | c: 917.771.9845

In response to the current protests for racial justice and denouncing police brutality, the federal government has deployed ICE and Customs Border Protections (CBP) officials to put down these protests and demonstrations. NYLAG’s Director of Immigrant Protection, Jodi Ziesemer offers the following response:

“It’s an irresponsible and disproportionate response for the federal government to deploy ICE and Customs Border Protections (CBP)— as makeshift enforcement—to the current demonstrations and protests. Not only is it not their official role, these agencies are known to engage in violent and deceptive practices in order to incarcerate immigrant communities that are largely of color. While government officials have promised they are not there to act as immigration enforcement, this is clearly an intimidation tactic. Their very presence sends the opposite message and creates an unsafe and hostile environment for immigrants who are exercising their right to speak out against racial injustice. NYLAG calls for the removal of ICE and CBP from the ongoing protests.”

About NYLAG

Founded in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a leading not-for-profit civil legal services organization advocating for adults, children, and families that are experiencing poverty or have low income. We tackle the legal challenges and systematic barriers that threaten our clients’ economic stability, well-being, and safety. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and constantly improving how we respond to systemic issues of racism that affect our clients in their pursuit of justice. We address emerging and urgent needs with comprehensive, free civil legal services, direct representation, impact litigation, policy advocacy, financial counseling, medical-legal partnerships, and community education and partnerships. Last year, we affected the lives of 90,800 people. Learn more at nylag.org. 

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