Our campaign to prevent the deportation of Alfredo Flores was recently featured in the Jackson Heights Post. Journalist Meghan Sackman wrote the article, describing Alfredo’s struggle to remain in the US with his family, and our efforts to raise awareness of Alfredo’s case. Thank you, Meghan, for helping to make Alfredo’s voice heard.
You can view the article here.
Alfredo Flores is a native of Mexico who came to the US to seek a better life as thousands of Americans before him have done. He is married to US citizen, Wendoly (Wendy) Valverde, has three US citizen children, and has been a peaceful and productive resident of Jackson Heights, Queens.
In July of 2018 Alfredo boarded a Greyhound bus to visit his brother in Seattle, Washington that, unbeknownst to him, included a stop in Canada. Upon discovering he lacked legal status he was detained by Canadian border patrol and then delivered to DHS. ICE agents detained him after finding he was undocumented.
Alfredo was put in an ICE detention center outside of Buffalo, NY where he remained for 20 days, until his wife Wendy posted a $10,000 bond.
His detention was excruciating for his family, both emotionally and economically. They didn’t have the required $10,000 needed to secure his freedom. However, Wendy valiantly raised it by starting a fundraising campaign.
Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, who was a candidate at the time, read about Alfredo’s detention in the Jackson Heights Post. She connected Wendy with free legal service providers who helped win Alfredo’s release from ICE detention.
Alfredo was reunited with his family and we now ask for your help with keeping their family united and Alfredo on a road to U.S. citizenship.
A video of the important work that activist groups such as The New Sanctuary Coalition, Make The Road New York, The New York Immigration Coalition, Rise And Resist and many other allies did in 2018.
The Jackson Heights Immigrant Solidarity Network was mentioned in a recent article in The Washington Post.
A cautious hope emerges among Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s constituents
“One recent weekend on the lower level of a Pakistani restaurant there, a majority-white group of residents gathered in a computer repair shop. They met to figure out what they could do to thwart what they felt was the most immediate threat to pierce their bubble: the crackdown on illegal immigration.” Read more…
On December 8th we held our Public Charge Comment Event, outside the Jackson Heights Post Office. The aim was to help as many people as possible make their comments against the Trump administration’s Public Charge Proposal. The turnout was fantastic, and it was a joy to see so much of our community getting involved. Thank you to everyone who participated, and to Isa Newman-Rodriguez for the pics!
Click each image to see it full size.
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Update (10/11/19): A Judge in New York has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction which stops the Department of Homeland Security’s “public charge” regulation from going into effect. This is a victory for immigrant families. The legal fight will continue, but for now, the rules in the United States have not changed.
President Trump’s “Public Charge” proposal will force millions of immigrants to choose between public services and seeking permanent residence, by making it harder for those who have used public services to get their Green Card.
Before the rule can be finalized, however, the administration is required by law to review and respond to every unique public comment they receive.
To make your voice heard, follow these instructions:
What should you write in the comment box?
This rule will threaten the health and well-being of my children.
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I disagree with this rule because I have paid my taxes and should be entitled to receive help without jeopardizing my chance for a Green Card.
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This rule could cost our economy $164 billion a year and drive up poverty, hunger & housing needs.
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