Batavia, NY—The risk of exposure to COVID19 for immigrants incarcerated in the Buffalo Federal Detention Center, known as Batavia, increases by the day and the time is now to release all immigrants in Detention say immigration advocates. On March 12, one day after the World Health Organization declared COVID19 a pandemic, there was a transfer of 40- 52 people to Batavia, some of whom came from Bergen County where a corrections office tested positive for COVID19.

This news of exposure comes as advocates sound the alarm regarding the court in Batavia, which has remained fully open, further increasing the risk of exposure to all who must go to court.

New York, NY—With Albany lawmakers moving quickly to pass an emergency paid sick leave bill, immigrant advocates are raising the alarm that the legislation leaves out thousands of immigrant workers and poses hardships to New York’s small and micro-businesses, the majority of which are owned by workers.

New York, NY—Today, immigrant advocates, community leaders and elected officials came together to demand the inclusion of immigrant communities in COVID-19 response planning by the city, state and federal governments, and call for the implementation of specific policy and budget proposals as outlined in the "New York United" platform to ensure New York’s immigrants are protected and empowered during this crisis.

New York, NY-Today, President Trump declared a national emergency and said he was making $50 billion in emergency funding available, lifting restrictions on doctors and hospitals and waiving interest on student loans. But he rejected a sweeping House economic relief package that would have included paid sick leave, free virus tests, and expanded food security.

New York, NY—As part of New York City’s response to COVID-19, the city closed two South Bronx schools Thursday morning and additional schools on Friday. In response to this situation, Kim Sykes, Director of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition issued the following statement:

“We applaud Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Carranza, and City Council leaders for recognizing that many New York families rely on schools for more than their children's educational needs, including  access to health care, meals, and other essential supports.

Washington, DC-A leaked Customs and Border Protection directive allows the agency to actively surveil and detain individuals suspected of carrying illness—indefinitely. The document, obtained by The Nation, is titled “Operations Plan for Pandemic Response” and was drafted during the avian flu pandemic of 2007. The plan describes CBP and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) overseeing potential tent cities of quarantined detainees at the border and coordinating with unspecified intelligence agencies—both foreign and domestic—as well as the Pentagon.

New York, NY—On Wednesday evening,President Trump announced a 30-day suspension of travel from Europe to the United States, beginning on Friday. The President also imposed a 30-day ban on foreigners who in the previous two weeks have been in the 26 countries that make up the European Union’s Schengen Area.

Albany, NY-Today, immigrants and allies from across the state marched through the corridors of power in Albany demanding support for a broader immigrant protection and empowerment agenda, “New York’s Promise Package,” to defend against the Trump administration’s ongoing assaults and separation of families.

New York, NY-With today’s reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) massively increasing its presence in several sanctuary cities, including in New York State, immigrant advocates are renewing their call for Albany to fund desperately-needed immigration lawyers for New York’s families.

New York, NY—Following the confirmation of the first few positive cases of the novel (new) coronavirus, COVID-19, in New York City, immigration advocates joined New York City and New York State officials in urging calm, while denouncing attempts by President Trump to cynically exploit a public health issue for partisan gain.