The familiar red and yellow cards of soccer took on a different meaning in Sunset Park on Wednesday, where volunteers handed commuters wallet-sized “Know Your Rights” cards instead of penalties.

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Faiza N. Ali joined Council Member Alexa Avilés and community organizations, including Mixteca, the Healing Center and Community Board 7, at a “Know Your Rights” canvassing event in Sunset Park on July 15. Volunteers distributed NYC World Cup Referee Kits, part of a citywide immigration resource campaign launched by the Mamdani administration in early June ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The kit includes two wallet-sized cards modeled after soccer’s yellow and red card system. The yellow card lists MOIA’s Immigration Legal Support Hotline, the city’s NYC HOPE hotline for people experiencing domestic or gender-based violence or who have been victims of crime, and a reminder to call 311 to report labor violations. The red card outlines immigrants’ rights during encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at home, in the workplace or in public spaces.

Both cards are available in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bangla, Haitian Creole, Korean, Arabic, Polish, Urdu, French and Wolof.

The city is using the excitement surrounding the World Cup to reach immigrant communities where they are gathering for watch parties at community centers, restaurants and public spaces, Ali told Brooklyn Paper. She said the campaign comes amid heightened federal immigration enforcement and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status protections for more than 1 million immigrants, including many Haitians living in New York City.

“We want to make sure that all New Yorkers understand what their rights are during this critical time, and using the World Cup as an opportunity to meet communities where they are,” Ali said. She added that it is more important than ever to equip immigrant communities with accurate information amid widespread fear and confusion.

The red card provides “Know Your Rights” information for encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at home, in the workplace and in public spaces.Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs The yellow card lists the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Immigration Legal Support Hotline, the NYC HOPE hotline for survivors of domestic or gender-based violence and victims of crime, and a reminder to call 311 to report labor violations.Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

Ali urged immigrant New Yorkers to contact only the city’s Immigration Legal Support Hotline, which connects callers with accredited legal service providers, warning that scammers often target vulnerable immigrant communities.

“It’s really critical that we direct them to the city’s immigration legal support hotline,” Ali said. “In moments like this, there’s a lot of opportunity for fraud and for communities to be taken advantage of. You have people who make promises to give you immigration relief. If they’re too good to be true, they probably are not true.”

Ali also stressed the importance of partnering with trusted community-based organizations such as Mixteca.

“It’s really important right now for New Yorkers to know that the city is out here, but so are their neighbors, and we’re working alongside one another to make sure that New York City’s immigrant community is protected,” she said.

About 30 volunteers canvassed the 59th, 53rd and 45th Street R subway stations in Sunset Park, distributing more than 1,000 Spanish- and Chinese-language cards in about an hour, highlighting the demand for reliable immigration resources.

Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Faiza N. Ali, Council Member Alexa Avilés and representatives from Mixteca, the Healing Center and Community Board 7 participate in a “Know Your Rights” canvassing event in Sunset Park on July 15.

Avilés said her office receives daily reports of ICE sightings in the community, making “Know Your Rights” outreach more critical than ever. She said obtaining legal assistance quickly is essential after someone is detained because access to attorneys becomes much more difficult once people are transferred to immigration detention centers in states such as Texas or Louisiana.

“[ICE] is getting faster, and they’re just pulling up in cars and just taking people and then leaving, so it’s concerning, and people are very afraid,” Avilés said. “We need people to understand both what their rights are when they’re home, what their rights are in their workplace, and also if they need support on immigration matters or even domestic violence matters as well.”

Avilés said many immigrants are living in fear but that canvassing events provide both practical support and reassurance that the community stands with them.

“The presence also reminds folks that we keep each other safe, and we have neighbors that are looking out for each other,” Avilés said. “We are an immigrant community. We stand by immigrants. Our city is an immigrant city, and we’re trying our best to provide information and support.”