Hundreds of Newburgh residents skipped work, skipped school and shut down their businesses Monday as they continue to send a message about the importance of immigrants to Newburgh's success.

The immigrant-friendly city is preparing for raids by agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

More than 200 business owners, students and community organizers attended a rally on Broadway Monday afternoon, while “closed” signs hung on businesses throughout the city.

The protestors want to protect law-abiding people from a new campaign by ICE to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

The work stoppage and rally were part of a nationwide demonstration to show their neighbors and federal government officials what life would be like if they were not here.

"I cut school today," Newburgh student Juliet Perez-Solis said. "To show that I support our community."

Perez-Solis and her mother, Sharon Solis, do not trust ICE to prioritize removals of violent fugitives and gang members over non-violent people.

During President Donald Trump's first term, ICE reportedly deported several Hudson Valley immigrants who had no histories of violence.

Sharon Solis fears a repeat.

"Some people had to leave their home states because there weren't opportunities for their kids and for everybody, so they had to come here looking for a better life," she said. "The American Dream is for you to be free and they're making us scared to even walk the streets."

The Pew Research Center found there are 8.3 million undocumented immigrants in the American workforce.

Newburgh City Councilwoman Giselle Martinez has taken a leading role in educating businesses and families about their rights when dealing with ICE.

Martinez said the rally was another chance to educate.

"Informing our community about their rights was the best thing for us to do with all the misinformation and the panic happening in our communities," she said.

News 12 has not confirmed any arrests by ICE in Newburgh since President Trump took office last month.

The community is organizing though, after repeated warnings from local officials that Newburgh — a city full of immigrant families — will be a target.