Some 25% of New Rochelle’s residents are immigrants, and 87% of the City’s population are US citizens.   Many immigrants, both documented and undocumented, are scared by the president’s threats to deport them. What’s going on in the community? What are elected leaders doing, and what can people  do to protect themselves and support their neighbors?

In a recent conversation, Jackeline Agudelo, Executive Director of the United Community Center of Westchester (UCCW), shared peoples’ fears and discussed how they can prepare themselves and protect their families should ICE come knocking on their doors. She also shared what those folks who are not at risk can do to help – as friends, allies, bystanders, or volunteers.

Founded in 2005 by Agudelo, UCCW is a nonprofit community-based organization that provides quality social, economic, and community development services to people who face financial, educational, health, language, or cultural barriers to realizing their dreams.  The center is open to all, but primarily serves immigrants from many countries. UCCW helps over 700 people become naturalized citizens yearly.

But now, according to Agudelo, “…people are scared. They are staying home. They are hiding. The streets are empty. The stores are empty… they won’t get groceries. Some kids are staying home from school. Some are afraid to go to the doctor…. It’s wrong. Many are people who have lived here for more than 10 years. Working, and paying taxes they do not benefit from.” 

Jackeline Agudelo of United Community Center of Westchester (UCCW)

In fact, according to a recent report of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, “Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Most of that amount, $59.4 billion, was paid to the federal government, while the remaining $37.3 billion was paid to state and local governments.” The report states that this amounts to nearly $9,000 per person in 2022, with more than a third of those dollars going to programs like Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance that these workers are not able to access.   

But according to Agudelo, under this presidential administration, no one without an immigration status is safe from deportation. In late January, Agudelo says, “…. a group of students from New Rochelle High School went to eat at a local restaurant after a sports practice. Two uniformed ICE officers approached the group and asked the only student who looked Latino where he was from. The teen replied, ‘I am from Venezuela.’ One of the officers then asked, ‘Are you one of the good ones or the bad ones?’ The other students immediately surrounded their friend, telling ICE officers that he was a good kid with very good grades. One officer responded that he was not talking to them. Then they left. The teen’s mother did not send him to school for two weeks.”

In 2017, at the start of the previous Trump administration, New Rochelle officials issued a statement that “…its police department will not engage in immigration enforcement.” Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert has confirmed that this is still true. She indicated that the New Rochelle Police Department has been reminded recently that it is the City’s policy to assist ICE agents only in pursuit of criminals, and that any warrant must be a “judicial warrant” signed by a judge, not an immigration officer. She also shared that police officers have been trained not to inquire about an individual’s immigration status unless it is necessary to investigate criminal activity by that individual.

The New York State Education Department has stated that “Schools must be a safe space. Law enforcement may not remove a student from school or interrogate a student without parental consent.”  

At its February 4th meeting, the New Rochelle Board of Education passed a resolution designed to protect students, which was referenced in a statement circulated by the Mayor, the Superintendent and the Board. The statement reminds the community that all students are welcome, and that the school district does not collect immigration status, citizenship, or national origin information or documentation from its students or families. It also indicates that  any inquiry from ICE will be referred to the Superintendent, to ensure consistency across all schools. If ICE attempts to gain entry to non-public areas of a school, they will be asked to wait for the district’s legal counsel to review the warrant and verify the legality of the request. 

Agudelo said she and other families were grateful for the assurance.

Download this “Know Your Rights” flyer as a PDF file in English, Spanish or French.

In Westchester County there are an estimated 50,000 undocumented immigrants, more than half of whom have lived here for 10 to 20 years, and roughly 70% of whom are employed. In 2018, the County passed an Immigrant Protection Act, which prevents the use of its resources to assist in federal investigations based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity or national origin. County Legislator Judah Holstein recently confirmed that the County’s policy is still in effect, and added that “county employees will not disclose a resident’s legal status without a judicial warrant.”

Agudelo acknowledges that no amount of reassurance can make people feel safe, so UCCW has developed resources to educate people about their rights and how to best protect themselves and their families. She has developed an educational presentation in multiple languages to ensure that everyone knows their rights and is distributing a “Tarjeta Roja,” or “Red Card,” that people can carry in their wallet as a reminder. 

Click here to download this “Red Card” as a PDF file.

Meanwhile Agudelo said she would welcome help from community members. The UCCW food pantry is in need of non-perishable items, as an increasing number of families are in need. And since so many are afraid to leave their homes, they have called for volunteers who can help deliver food to families. In addition, UCCW needs pro-bono attorneys and financial assistance to hire lawyers. It can provide training for volunteers to learn how to assist people in court effectively. 

People who wish to volunteer can write to Angelica@uccenter.org.  For more information, or to donate, go to www.uccenter.org.