Ithaca community group leads immigration sensitivity training

Immigration has been a hot topic this year in result of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration and refugees. We’ve seen multiple protests, rallies and demonstrations in response to those orders.

Ithaca is declared a Sanctuary City and earlier this year community members held an “Emergency Rally to Support Immigrant Rights” but that doesn’t stop US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) from coming into the city.

Community members with the Tompkins County Immigrant Rights Coalition (TCIRC) want to ensure that immigrant rights are respected and supported. There have been multiple arrests this year in the Ithaca area.

In Jan. 2018, 3 people were arrested in Ithacaby (ICE).

In March 2018, a local attorney and his client were handling a traffic violation at the Ithaca City Court when they were informed that ICE was waiting for the client to leave the courtroom to take him into custody.

The TCIRC also said there’s been an ongoing ICE presence at the Ithaca airport and bus stops.

Thursday night the TCIRC held a meeting in Muller Chapel at Ithaca College to bring awareness to this issue. The meeting opened with IC’s Director of Religious and Spiritual Beliefs, Hieald Osorto:

“It [immigration] touches all of our lives and because it is a reality right here in this county we are called to listen and dissert how to actively and compassionately be involved.”

Leaders of the TCIRC gave a brief presentation on how you can volunteer to help those who are stopped and detained by ICE.

Committee member Patricia Rodriguez explains the 5 roles of the Rapid Response Network. Photo via Emily Chavez

Rapid Response Network

Through TCIRC is the Rapid Response Network.This network offers a hotline number for those who are confronted by immigration officials or even witnessing an immigration arrest. There are about 80 volunteers who try to witness and document the presence of the ICE in Tompkins County.

There are 5 roles within the Rapid Response team:

· Operators

· Documenters: videographers/photographers/scribes

· Legal observers

· Media team

· Working groups

As executive orders continue to change so does the Rapid Response curriculum. Training sessions are held throughout the year.

You can follow TCIRC on Twitter to see emergency updates on arrests and sightings.

#Ithaca #Immigration #ICParkSM