The coalition El Barrio Against Deportation composed of elected officials and activists presented a series of recommendations to protect the rights of the undocumented residents in New York City. The recommendations accompanied the presentation of a report called "Immigration Reform Starts Here" at a press conference in El Barrio (East Harlem), an enclave of the Puerto Rican community and, more recently, of the Mexican community. The report condemns the treatment of immigrants in the Rikers Island prison in New York.
The coalition alludes to a recent report by a pro-immigrant group that asserts that the city is facilitating the presence of immigration agents in the prison, who are allowed to interrogate the detainees without their knowing that they represent that agency.
The coalition recommended to the Department of Corrections: to restrict immigration agents' access to prisoners awaiting trial; to prohibit sharing the digital fingerprints with the Department of Homeland Security; and protect the rights of all New Yorkers in prison.
At the same time, the coalition suggests that before the "Safe Communities" program is expanded in New York next year, that local authorities hold public hearings for the community to express its opinion.
Juan Carlos Ruiz, of the New Sanctuary Movement, reiterated that immigrants are treated as if they were terrorists by the Department of Homeland Security.
The "El Barrio against Deportation" coalition also proposed that the mayor, the City Council, and the Department of Education create an identification card for undocumented residents that can be used in libraries, recycling centers and beaches, and pointed to the identification card issued in New Haven, Connecticut since 2007.
State Senator Hiram Monserrate (D-District 13), who unfortunately is having legal problems, presented a bill two years ago when he was a City Council member, to create a city identification card, but the proposal failed.
East Harlem Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito, a member of the coalition, presented a similar proposal with the support of State Senator José Marco Serrano (D-District 28), who has become a voice for the immigrant community in East Harlem.
The study also points to the need to create closer communication between the undocumented community and the police, and suggests creating educational programs for immigrant families in their own language, covering federal and local laws, as well as the function and structure of the police and district attorneys.
It was also suggested that the police be informed about how to work more effectively with immigrants. The report was sent to the Department of Corrections, the City Council, the State Legislature and other government agencies. Senator Serrano said that he is aware that important decisions regarding immigration are in the hands of the federal government, but he asserted that working together with elected officials, immigrant communities and activists can create change.
The coalition also informed that it will send President Barack Obama 1,000 letters signed by U.S. citizens who ask that he put an end to the raids and deportations.
