Immigrant New Yorkers are finding safety in solidarity through one group’s peacekeeping efforts.
Ongoing immigration raids have forced many immigrant communities into hiding. Many groups are focusing on ensuring immigrants know their rights so they will know how to respond if they encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Jules Dela Fuente, program coordinator for the group Nonviolent Peaceforce, said the organization's scenario training offers a more realistic approach.
"Some of the scenarios involve different environments, such as community events in public spaces, being in a nonprofit organization office," Dela Fuente explained. "The trainings teach participants how to stay calm and collected so they can make safe and informed decisions while they work through that situation."
The training enables people to reflect on responses in a moment of strain, like when ICE shows up at a food pantry event. It is highly possible, as there have been reports of agents arresting people at schools, health care centers and immigration courts. As the program continues, Dela Fuente noted the organization sees the training as a way to strengthen the city’s immigrant defense system.
Feedback is overwhelmingly positive but some training sessions take an atypical approach. At one event, a participant spoke about their fears of being undocumented in New York City. In response, the team helped them map out safer routes to use and ways to engage others in "protective accompaniment."
Dela Fuente acknowledged it can be challenging to navigate the ever-changing landscape of immigration enforcement.
"It has been increasingly challenging to hold these questions and have to walk participants through what they could be doing when the situation can sometimes be very uncertain and unpredictable," Dela Fuente noted.
Fear about immigration actions has only grown in the wake of the Minneapolis immigration operation and several fatal shootings by ICE officers.
Dela Fuente added it has given way to community members feeling motivated to do something to help immigrant New Yorkers.
