While meeting the immediate needs of our brothers and sisters in the community, it is important to take time to review ways we can make systematic change. Many allies are in positions of power and privilege; therefore, because of our access and resources, we can take steps to ensure that the voices of marginalized immigrants are heard in sectors to which they do not have access, and where we can push for transformation, justice, and accountability.
As we work for systemic change and advocacy, it is essential to remember that we are allies and therefore, it is important to take steps to listen to the voices of those we accompany. It is also important to remember that we too are citizens, workers and a part of this democracy — and that we also have the right to demand a just society.
In light of the events of early 2025, there is an urgent need for pressure on national elected officials even as we work to protect our neighbors. In the midst of the rapid change in federal government structures, it will be important for some members of each community to keep in touch with national figures to push for human and immigrant rights. (See “Know Your Rights” section of this Menu.)
National Issues
While Rural & Migrant Ministry focuses on statewide issues in New York that affect rural areas, there are obviously national issues that are at the root of the impact on rural New York State immigrants. Below are a few actions that individuals, groups, and communities can take.
- One important step is to participate in existing efforts (or organize an effort) that focus on elected officials within their regional rural New York offices (your Representatives have offices locally and in Washington). When your Representatives are not in Washington, they are usually in their Home Districts, and typically host a couple of Town Hall meetings, or go to public events (such as groundbreakings and civic celebrations). Please keep tabs on their Town Hall meetings by either following your Representatives on social media (“like” and “follow” on Facebook) or paying close attention to your local media outlets. When you find out that they will be somewhere, go and bear witness.
- Feel free to call both their Washington and their local office, and if you do not reach a person, leave a voicemail or try again.
- Another step is to communicate by continually writing to your elected official (snail mail is best sent to the official’s local office), or writing letters to the editor in the local paper. Stay up-to-date on issues that affect you and your community, and call your local Congressperson and Senator. Before you call, write a simple statement to share with their staff.
- Example: “Hello, my name is (first and last name) and I am a constituent of Congressional Representative or Senator (their name). I live in (your hometown and zip code — very rarely they will ask you for your physical address, but if they do, please share it with their staff), and I would like to express my concern about (the issue you are calling about — if it’s a specific Bill, you can tell them what the Bill is and state your opposition or support, and why it is important for you).” They will kindly say they will let your Representative know and you can thank them for their time.
- For issues pertaining to the Justice Department or other government agencies, it is best to call those agencies directly and either leave a message with a staff member or a voicemail.
Tools for you to connect with your elected officials:
- Look up your Congressperson: www.house.gov/representatives/find/
- Look up your two Senators: www.senate.gov/senators/contact
- Stay up to date on House and Senate Bills through www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/
Local Actions
Below are a few actions that individuals, groups, and communities can take:
Work on Local Laws/Ordinances/Policies
A city or county does not have to publicly say that they are a Sanctuary City or County (there is a section below about Sanctuary) in order to already have or to implement policies that help to protect immigrants. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) has published a comprehensive guide of city and local policies:
ACTION: www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/local_options-20161215.pdf
A few examples of local policies are:
- For police departments to not share information with ICE or honor requests to place ICE detainers on individuals in jail (most common form of city sanctuary)
- to establish protocols to help with U Visa cases (for victims of crimes), and to ensure city benefits are available for all residents.
Usually, the first step is to map what your local government bodies have already done before the spotlight was shone on immigration. Some may already have these policies in place, or have already debated and denied them. Remember, the sheriff, local legislators, and mayor are elected officials. As a constituent, you have a right to communicate what sort of community you want to live in.
Typically, local governments are in charge of deciding if their city or county will be a sanctuary city or county, which means the police chief, county sheriff or mayor decide if their locality will report undocumented individuals to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (Border Patrol, or CBP).
If you would like to receive clarity on this issue, you might try scheduling a meeting with your elected officials (mayor or sheriff) to discuss your concerns. You can advocate on behalf of undocumented immigrants by expressing personal stories, personal frustrations and fears that are associated with this vulnerable group in your own community.
Engage Local Police & Sheriff Departments
Key components in the immigration system are the local police and sheriff departments. They are often the first contact that immigrants may have with the system — whether it be through a traffic stop, or through reporting domestic abuse or other crime. How the local departments proceed can determine the direction of the immigrant’s life. Regardless of whether the local government has decided to become a sanctuary community, local officers have initial discretion over whether a person is ticketed or arrested. An arrest could place the person in the system, and therefore, could put them on the radar of the federal government. So, even perhaps unknowingly, an officer may be responsible for the negative path. At the other end of the spectrum is the decision by a local department to engage in an agreement with federal government through Section 287(g) of the INA,allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into formal written agreements (Memoranda of Agreement, or MOAs) with state or local police departments to deputize selected state and local law enforcement officers to perform the functions of federal immigration agents.
There is an important need for delegations of citizens to request meetings with local police to find out about their policies, and to urge them to focus on their jobs of service and safety to the community, not immigration enforcement. (There are many articles about how community safety suffers when local police become engaged in immigration enforcement). Our voices can make a difference.
ACTION: www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/287g-program-immigration
A note from the ACLU:
The Trump Administration has asserted, falsely, that if localities do not help advance its mass deportation agenda, they are violating federal law. The following rule, which is the only applicable federal law in this area, would help to ensure your city, county or town establishes its clear intent not to violate federal law. While not a necessary addition, this rule may be a useful complement to the above policies.
1373 Rule: Under 8 U.S.C. § 1373 and 8 U.S.C. § 1644, federal law prohibits [county/city/state] officials from imposing limits on maintaining, exchanging, sending, or receiving information regarding citizenship and immigration status with any federal, state, or local government entity. Nothing in [county/city/state] policies is intended to violate 8 U.S.C. § 1373 and 8 U.S.C. § 1644.
Work on your Institution
See the following section for information on Sanctuary, specifically, and subsequent sections for faith institutions.
Local Government
Attend your town/city meetings and be aware of what the leadership has been approving, thinking about instituting, or not thinking about at all. Follow your locals on social media and be up-to-date on what they post and promote. Better yet, run for office, sign up to be on relevant committees, and get directly involved.
Institutions of Higher Education
Do they offer scholarships for undocumented students? Does their website share information about how to apply for in-state tuition if public, or whether or not they accept undocumented students in private? Has their President or a Dean issued a statement saying they will support undocumented students and refugees?
Google for these resources
Community College resources specifically United We Dream Toolkit for campuses: www.paralosninos.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/UWD-HereToStay-Toolkit-for-Educators.pdf
Public K-12 schools
It is illegal for public K-12 schools to inquire about immigration status prior to enrollment or in a way that may affect enrollment. If you are in a school district and you hear that practices such as asking for social security numbers during enrollment are underway, confirm the issue, then report the school district to the NYCLU Office of Legal Assistance. Phone: 212-607-3300 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hospitals
Under federal law, hospitals with emergency departments must screen and treat people who need emergency medical services, regardless of whether they have insurance, how much money they have, or their immigration status. Similarly, anyone can seek primary and preventive health care at community health centers regardless of health insurance, ability to pay, or their immigration status. Regardless of your immigration status, you have a right to an interpreter at no cost, whether you are applying for Medicaid, CHIP, or a Marketplace Insurance Plan, or are seeking care at a hospital or community health center. A more comprehensive list of patient rights can be found at the National Immigration Law Center: www.nilc.org/issues/health-care/health-insurance-and-care-rights)
As an ally, you can ask your local hospital what they are doing to help immigrants.
Statewide Actions
CORE NYS: College Opportunity and Resource Expansion
An investment that allows all of our state’s students, including undocumented students, to overcome financial barriers, attend college, and minimize their student loans is one that will pay future dividends many times over. This policy change would:
Extend Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) access to undocumented youth who:
- Arrived in the U.S. before age 16, and
- Graduated from a New York High School or passed New York Accredited High School Equivalency Program
Increase TAP awards and opportunities by:
- Raising the household income threshold from $80,000 to $125,000;
- Increasing the maximum TAP funding award for full-time students from $5,165 to $6,500 over the next two years, with minimum TAP set at $1,000;
- Changing the Students with Disabilities TAP extension to be two years
- Reinstating TAP access for Graduate programs
Utilize New York State funds to create a $50 million loan fund for academically qualified college students at no cost
For these and other state campaigns, you can find out who your Senator and Assemblyperson is, their stance on the issue, and their District and Albany phone numbers on these websites:
Use the search-by-address tool if you do not know your Senator. You can also search by Bill number to find out if your Senator is a co-sponsor or not, and, if a vote took place during a previous session, whether they voted aye or nay.
Disruption and Civil Disobedience
At some point, one’s conscience, faith, or anger can lead us to move beyond conversation, negotiation, advocacy, and legal challenges — and we find ourselves in the midst of protest and civil disobedience. This leads to an effort of disruption; a disruption of systemic injustice — a disruption of what is seeking to become a new norm. It is a calling out, continuing in the line of the Judeo-Christian tradition of the prophets: naming injustice, warning of its costs, and refusing to participate. Ultimately, it is an act of love — determined, defiant love.
Increasingly, brothers and sisters are standing up in defiance. The degree varies, but the determination is the same: a determination that our principles — rooted in democracy, faith, basic human rights, dignity, and value of humanity — will not be overridden by injustice, greed, fear or ignorance.
Here are some steps of resistance that people are taking:
Google all your local officials and Representatives (see websites above in this section). Call them regularly and voice your concerns with their offices, especially if there are particular issues that affect you.
- Set up appointments, and visit them.
- Find out if others in the area are doing the same, and join them. If you can’t find others, create your own solidarity group and set up a constant flow of visits. Typically, all you have to do to set up a meeting is to call your local Representative and ask them to discuss a particular issue. For example, if you would like to set up a meeting with your state senator immigration concerns, call their local office to arrange it.
- Appear at their public functions and voice your concerns. Appear at their non-public functions and voice your concerns (get creative).
Run for public office if there are vacancies or you would like to take a stand. Get involved in committees that contribute to local government.
If you discover that someone is going before an immigration court/appointment and is likely facing detention/deportation, find out if there is a solidarity group/organization that is organizing a protest. They may even be planning civil disobedience.
Be creative and determined — there is so much more that needs to be done, and we are all able to be leaders, to step forward, organize and speak out.
ACTION: The Indivisible Guide for Resistance offers practical suggestions for getting involved at different levels and reaching your legislators. It was written and is maintained by a volunteer corps of former staffers. www.indivisibleguide.com/