Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) actions are accelerating in the Hudson Valley. In the words of  Reverend Liz Estes, UIDN board member and clergy spokesperson, “the waves of hatred are pounding our shores.” Growing numbers of local citizens hear the pounding and refuse to remain passive. At UIDN, offers to volunteer have come in at an unprecedented rate; our volunteer corps is now nearly 300 strong.

Local organizations of all kinds are stepping up to respond – from religious institutions and schools to legal defense, organized labor and social service groups. More than a dozen have come together in the Ulster Immigrant Support Coalition to share information and ideas during this critical time.

Those represented in the coalition, which held its second meeting in Kingston on Feb. 20, include Catholic Charities, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Immigration Law & Justice New York, Family of Woodstock, Radio Kingston, and Woodstock Immigrant Support.

continued from the newsletter: The February session enabled participating groups to learn of new and expanding initiatives in areas ranging from school safety and bullying of immigrant children to legal support and public health.

Members of the Ulster Immigrant Support Coalition

Logos representing members, Ulster Immigrant Support Coalition

Particular attention was devoted to the creation of a rapid response infrastructure that would enable volunteers to immediately respond to ICE actions.

As a result, a group is meeting weekly to create what will become Ulster Rapid Response, dispatching neighbors to arrests or raids while they happen, to document them and ensure ICE knows they are being observed. UIDN is also planning a program to help care for families left behind should one member be deported and to calm and support affected neighborhoods.