Press Release from ICE-free Capital District:

ALBANY, NY — As the Senate debates a spending bill and a potential government shutdown, residents of NY Congressional District 19, including immigrants and faith leaders, organized a spirited afternoon of protest in support of a “clean” DREAM Act.

After joining a protest at Representative John Faso’s Kinderhook office, slamming him for his vote to pass the spending bill without ensuring protection for the nearly 800,000 youth in the Delayed Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the group took over Senator Chuck Schumer’s office in Albany. As they sat in at the office, they demanded that Senator Schumer hold firm, and ensure that his caucus block any spending resolution unless it provides a ‘clean DREAM Act” - legislation that contains permanent protections for DACA youth -without additional funding for immigration enforcement.

Statement from the protestors below:

“We are here occupying Senator Schumer’s office to send a message. We are joining with our immigrant friends, neighbors, and family members to demand a clean Dream Act, but even more so, to demand dignity, respect, and permanent protection for all undocumented immigrants.

“We have witnessed the assaults and terror inflicted on immigrant communities, all under the disingenuous guise of ‘security’ or ‘enforcement’, but we must tell the truth: immigration ‘enforcement’ is white supremacist state terrorism.    

“Since the beginning of the 2016 presidential campaign, we have heard vile, racist, xenophobic rhetoric from the President and his followers, but we know the system is far more expansive than one person, and the result of both major political parties and their policies through the years. We have witnessed in the past several months, the use of undocumented immigrant youth, DACA recipients, as a political bargaining chip - negotiating their protection in exchange for further enforcement, so-called border security, and immense restrictions to existing legal immigration pathways. We have seen Temporary Protected Status ripped away from hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people, who will be forced to return to dangerous situations and places, facing violence and insecurity, situations which have largely been created by US foreign policy.

“Let’s be clear about what an increase to so-called border security and immigration enforcement means. While our opponents will claim that we need to ‘secure’ the border, we know that the border is a nightmare of state inflicted violence, perpetrated by Customs and Border Protection, locking up children and families, disappearing people into dangerous desert regions, and destroying humanitarian aid. While our opponents talk about a wall, we know that there are already hundreds of miles of existing border wall and fencing. When proposed deals include increased funding for immigration enforcement, we must remember that Customs and Border Protection is already the most heavily funded federal law enforcement agency.

“Expansion to immigration enforcement means more racial profiling, harassment, assault, and terror for our immigrant neighbors. We have witnessed the targeting and deportation of immigrant activists and their families. We know how ICE lies, violates people’s rights, disrespects their humanity, and devastates our communities. Meanwhile, ICE leadership and Attorney General Sessions threaten local municipalities that refuse to cooperate with their racist policies. 

“The immigration enforcement apparatus, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, is a white supremacist program of violence and exploitation. Over and over, our opponents have exposed themselves as racists, and their attempts to negotiate are transparently disingenuous and untrustworthy.

“Senator Schumer, now is the time to fight for what is right. We want a clean Dream Act which will provide protection and a pathway to citizenship for DACA youth with TPS and undocumented youth without increasing the white supremacist state violence being inflicted on our neighbors. Dignity, respect, and permanent protection for DACA recipients is where we start and we know all 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country deserve the same.

“To the courageous undocumented youth who are risking everything to fight for their lives and their communities, we are with you, and we will continue to fight with you. ¡Solidaridad ahora, mañana y siempre!   #DACA  #DreamActNow  #NoDreamNoDeal