Newburgh immigrants and officials brace for possible changes in ICE policy
Leaders of multiple churches and a synagogue told City Council members at Monday evening's meeting they must stick to the city's welcoming city policy of 2017, which bans local police from cooperating with ICE agents.
A group of clergy are joining the call for Newburgh leaders to hold fast to a city policy that prohibits local police from cooperating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Leaders of multiple churches and a synagogue told city council members at Monday evening's meeting they must stick to the city's welcoming city policy of 2017, which bans local police from cooperating with ICE agents on investigations and arrest scenes.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
Newburgh's population is more than half Hispanic and has a growing Haitian population.
The city has a history of immigrant-friendly policies.
"I and a few others said 'We're going to step up for this,'" Rabbi Doug Koin, of Temple Beth Jacob said. "We want you as board members to know that we in the Newburgh Interfaith Council and the Christian Ministerial Fellowship are going to stand behind you."
"The people of the city are afraid," said city resident of 33 years Willy Torres, also a father of three children who are in college.
Torres advises any newly arrived immigrant to "focus themselves on building a support system," maintaining their mental health, and staying out of trouble with the law.
Torres has seen local politics and the social climate change a few times in his time living in the city, and the people will have to weather another change.
Diana Lopez, organizing manager for immigration and housing non-profit For The Many, helped write several local cities' sanctuary policies, all which mandate a separation between their police departments and any ICE activity in the area.
Lopez said that when non-violent people are deported, their children and their children's friends suffer.
She anticipates a community impact similar to the holt felt in 2018 when ICE agents increased its campaign to arrest illegally present immigrants.
"I, myself, with my children, they're already scared for their classmates," she said with a tear. "It's really hard for them to think about it."
Mayor Torrance Harvey said Monday evening he is doubtful that Donald Trump will deliver on most of his promises on immigration policy.
He still said he will uphold the city's policy that its police department does not assist ICE agents nor share information about local immigrants with ICE.
A spokesperson for ICE said the agency's current policy is to prioritize removals of undocumented immigrants who have endangered their communities.
"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations does not conduct raids or sweeps, nor does the agency target noncitizens indiscriminately," the spokesperson wrote in an email Tuesday. "ERO’s intelligence-driven operations target public safety threats, such as criminal noncitizens and gang members, who have violated our nation's immigration laws."
The spokesperson would not speculate on any plans to change the policy by President-elect Trump's administration.
News 12 has submitted questions about the transition to the president-elect's transition team.
