Whistles in hand, elected and community leaders move down Church Avenue, taking their warning directly to East Flatbush businesses.
They called it an emergency response after community members say a fleet of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles was seen Wednesday morning in the neighborhood.
What You Need To Know
Elected leader called an emergency response after community members say a fleet of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles was seen Wednesday morning in the neighborhood
The sighting is intensifying fear in Little Caribbean and Little Haiti, home to one of the city’s largest Haitian communities
Organizers say some Haitian Temporary Protected Status recipients face expiring work authorizations Friday after the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending the protections
They allege that the agents were surveilling the area. The sighting is intensifying fear in Little Caribbean and Little Haiti, home to one of the city’s largest Haitian communities.
“Now you don’t really have or see the people that you [used] to see out in the community anymore, I guess because everyone is hiding,” resident Audrey Fortune said.
Organizers say some Haitian Temporary Protected Status recipients face expiring work authorizations Friday after the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending the protections.
“There are families, there are neighbors, there are friends and loved ones that are scared tonight,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said.
Using a loudspeaker and handing out legal rights cards, leaders told residents not to open their doors without a judicial warrant and that they can record immigration agents as long as they do not interfere.
“We are here today to take the streets. We want to make sure every TPS recipient, family member of a TPS recipient, immigrants in our community know that you have rights,” Council Member Farrah Louis said.
State Attorney General Letitia James also joined a coalition attorneys general urging Congress to extend Haitian TPS and restore court review of administration decisions.
But for residents in Brooklyn, the legal fight is also deeply personal.
“I thought America was for everyone, and you’re not suppose to be dividing families, but this is a big division,” Fortune said.
Leaders acknowledge they cannot eliminate that fear, but say knowing what ICE can and cannot legally do may keep it from controlling the neighborhood.
“I can’t tell folks not to be afraid. I can tell folks to be vigilant. Make sure that you’re getting accurate information,” Williams said.