Early this month, the Trump administration published its “public charge” rule, a bald-faced attack on working class immigrants—an attack that could strip millions of people and their families of critical support for shelter, food, and healthcare. 

The NYIC is working with partners in every corner of the state to make sure that immigrants and community members are informed about the rule and the resources available to help them navigate the new regulations. In the last week of August, we held the first in a series of town halls to share information with New Yorkers and to connect them with local service providers. We’ve been fighting “public charge” since the rule was first proposed last fall, and we won’t back down now—we're going to keep working to defeat the rule in the courts and ensure immigrant New Yorkers have the resources they need to lead healthy and safe lives.

The "public charge" rule is expected to go into effect on October 15, 2019, and it’s absolutely essential that immigrant communities seek out expert advice if they think they will be affected by public charge. 

Columbia County Sanctuary Movement Organizes to Protect Undocumented Community Members 

In May, a video of activist and community leader, Bryan MacCormack, the Executive Director of the Columbia Country Sanctuary Movement, preventing an ICE arrest went viral. When escorting two immigrants without legal status in his car, he was approached by immigration officers who presented him with an unsigned warrant of arrest. MacCormack knew his rights, reminded the two passengers of theirs, and refused to give the agents access to his car, preventing an unlawful arrest. 

Now, as ICE agents continue to target immigrants across Upstate New York, the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement is mobilizing to empower and protect undocumented New Yorkers. The organization is planning trainings to guarantee that immigrants know their rights if they’re confronted by immigration agents at work, and they also regularly use social media to share information about potential ICE targets, providing a vital resource for community members to safeguard themselves.