Today Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to speak with the Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly, about a recent incident in which a federal agent from USCIS visited a public school in Queens. In response, Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition issued the following statement:
“Although it appears that Thursday’s events were not an enforcement action, it demonstrates how important it is for the Department of Education to have these protocols in place to protect every student in New York City, regardless of immigration status.
While we applaud the City for its commitment to ensuring that all children can learn in a safe environment, we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the DOE and City leadership to identify where additional action is needed. Fears have escalated within the immigrant community as a result of the Trump administration’s hateful rhetoric, but this is our New York and we will fight to protect all students and their families, no matter where they're from."