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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 3d

Outrage is important, but action is critical. New York has opportunities to ACT NOW in the face of the federal admin's abuses of power
✔️ Pass the New York for All Act #NY4All
✔️ Pass the NYC Trust Act #ICEOutNYC
✔️ Use governor clemency powers for pardons and commutations #ClemencyNow

Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 11d

Everyone—regardless of immigration status—has constitutional rights. That includes immigrants who have had contact with the criminal legal system.

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 11d

But here's the thing: The arrest-to-deportation pipeline hurts all of us. When administrations use tools to broaden who is or isn’t deserving of fairness and due process, we all lose.

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 11d

IIRIRA laid the foundation for our current situation, using any contact with the criminal legal system as a basis for detention and deportation - often mandatory. It justified criminalizing immigrants, stripped them of their basic rights, and vastly increased the # of people facing deportation.

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 11d

So how did we get here? IIRIRA used the criminal legal system to drastically expand the incarceration of immigrants, create a fast track for deportations without due process and enable local police and ICE collusion.

The TL;DR: IIRIRA *is* the arrest-to-deportation pipeline

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 11d

About 7 million people have been deported since IIRIRA went into effect. That number doesn’t account for those who’ve been detained and deported since the start of Trump’s second term.

In comparison, about 2 million people were deported in the 100 years between 1892 and 1996.

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 11d

Today marks 29 years since then-president Clinton signed IIRIRA into law. The US has operated a mass deportation machine for decades and it can be traced to two laws: Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) 🧵

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 16d

This report is a reminder of why we cannot wait a day longer to pass the NYC Trust Act (Int 214) - so NYers who've been harmed by violations of our sanctuary laws have an opportunity to seek relief in court.

Tell @council.nyc.gov members to pass it immediately: bit.ly/ICEOUT-214

Take Action! Secure Justice for Immigrants Harmed by Violations of NYC Laws

Immigrant New Yorkers suffer long term harm when NYC agencies ignore and misinterpret local detainer laws. I just contacted my councilmember urging them to support #ICEOutNYC NYC Trust Act - Intro 214...

bit.ly

Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 16d

3/ We obtained over a thousand pages of emails exchanged between DOC and ICE between 2015 and 2019, and what we found were regular illegal communications about people in DOC custody, disregard for the rights of those detained, and more: www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/the-immigran...

The Immigrant Defense Project and Black Alliance for Just Immigration Release Emails Showing Clear Collusion Between the Department of Corrections and ICE - Immigrant Defense Project

www.immigrantdefenseproject.org

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 16d

2/ We’ve long documented DOC’s violations of sanctuary laws - recently in the 2023 release of email correspondence from a FOIL we filed with the Black Alliance for Just Immigration that showed both practice and culture of collusion with ICE to undermine NYers’ due process and funnel them to ICE.

The Immigrant Defense Project and Black Alliance for Just Immigration Release Emails Showing Clear Collusion Between the Department of Corrections and ICE - Immigrant Defense Project

www.immigrantdefenseproject.org

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 16d

🚨NEW: A report today from DOI revealed yet *more* sanctuary city violations by the Department of Corrections. We are enraged for the New Yorkers who were harmed in this instance, and yet we are not surprised.
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

Department of Correction investigator violated sanctuary city law, DOI report finds

The Department of Investigation said the city Department of Correction “failed to provide” appropriate training to staff about collaborating with ICE.

www.cityandstateny.com

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Reposted by Immigrant Defense Project (IDP)

Documented @documentedny.bsky.social · 23d

The protesting officials have 3 demands:
- Getting ICE out of New York and release all immigrants detained at Federal Plaza
- Calling on state lawmakers to Albany to pass the New York for All act
- Calling on city lawmakers to pass the NYC Trust Act for NYC to stop helping ICE

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Reposted by Immigrant Defense Project (IDP)

Documented @documentedny.bsky.social · 23d

Happening now: Dozens of New Yorkers, including faith leaders, doctors, and elected officials are at 26 Federal Plaza protesting ICE.

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

@immdefenseproject.bsky.social: “Together we are clear and unequivocal: our city’s historic sanctuary laws ensure that the rights of New Yorkers are protected and that our city resources help all New Yorkers thrive.”

“We applaud the court for striking down the Mayor’s attack on sanctuary, which sought to return ICE to Rikers Island and give them free reign to target New Yorkers, and we are grateful for the leadership of our City Council and the Speaker who stood up for our values as a city,” said Yasmine Farhang, Executive Director of the Immigrant Defense Project. “To roll back the clock a decade would have fueled a severe abuse of power against New Yorkers – especially Black, Latinx and other immigrants of color – at the same time that the violence, abuse and mismanagement at Rikers worsens daily. Together we are clear and unequivocal: our city’s historic sanctuary laws ensure that the rights of New Yorkers are protected and that our city resources help all New Yorkers thrive.”

Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

Families for Freedom: “However, it is crucial to acknowledge that conditions at Rikers Island continue to worsen. As a native New Yorker with immigrant roots, we believe that freedom in New York means everyone should feel safe, regardless of where they were born."

“We are thrilled by the victory striking down Mayor Adams’ attack on sanctuary policies, which sought to return ICE to Rikers Island. The City Council and the Speaker have upheld the values of New York City, standing firmly against the targeting of Black, Brown immigrants and other immigrants of color. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that conditions at Rikers Island continue to worsen. As a native New Yorker with immigrant roots, we believe that freedom in New York means everyone should feel safe, regardless of where they were born,” said Janay Cauthen, Executive Director of Families for Freedom.

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

@thenyic.bsky.social: “...the NYS Supreme Court has offered a vital degree of protection for our immigrant neighbors. Thousands of NYers will no longer face the prospect of detention and deportation because they were sent to Rikers after being simply accused – not convicted – of a crime.”

“The Mayor’s attempt to bring ICE back to Rikers Island has failed. By declaring the Mayoral Administration’s executive order to re-open an ICE office at Rikers ‘null and void,’ the NYS Supreme Court has offered a vital degree of protection for our immigrant neighbors. Thousands of New Yorkers will no longer face the prospect of detention and deportation because they were sent to Rikers after being simply accused – not convicted – of a crime. New York City must never collude with the Federal Administration’s mass deportation agenda, and our Mayor should be ensuring that every New Yorker has their due process rights protected. We commend the NYS Supreme Court, Speaker Adrienne Adams, City Council and the people of New York for continuing to stand up for our immigrant neighbors,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

@katalcenter.org: "We hail this ruling; instead of working with ICE to further criminalize immigrants, the Mayor should be working to shut down the deadly jail complex and protect all New Yorkers.”

“Early this year, Mayor Adams sold out immigrant New Yorkers by attempting to allow ICE to reopen an office at Rikers Island, in a quid pro quo with President Trump to get his corruption charges dropped. This was a shameless attempt to help the Trump Administration carry out its mass criminalization and deportation agenda for the mayor’s selfish benefits,” said Melanie Dominguez, organizing director for the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice. “Yesterday, Justice Mary V. Rosado ruled that the Mayor’s Executive Order to allow immigration authorities into Rikers Island presented a conflict of interest and was outright illegal. We hail this ruling; instead of working with ICE to further criminalize immigrants, the Mayor should be working to shut down the deadly jail complex and protect all New Yorkers.”

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

The Bronx Defenders: “With this ruling, the court shut the door on this politically motivated and entirely baseless attempt to strengthen the arrest-to-deportation pipeline in New York City."

“With this ruling, the court shut the door on this politically motivated and entirely baseless attempt to strengthen the arrest-to-deportation pipeline in New York City,” said Rosa Cohen-Cruz, Director of Immigration Policy at The Bronx Defenders. “We commend the Speaker, New York City Council, and the Public Advocate for swiftly and courageously standing up for our sanctuary policies, which have kept New Yorkers safe and advanced justice for all.”

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

@legalaidnyc.bsky.social: “The Executive Order was a clear violation of New York City’s sanctuary protections and would have opened the door to racial profiling, wrongful deportations, and constitutional violations by ICE on Rikers Island.”

“This ruling is a critical victory for all New Yorkers and a rejection of the federal government’s mass deportation agenda, and of the Adams administration’s unlawful and dangerous Executive Order 50,” said Meghna Philip, Director of the Special Litigation Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “The Executive Order was a clear violation of New York City’s sanctuary protections and would have opened the door to racial profiling, wrongful deportations, and constitutional violations by ICE on Rikers Island. The court’s decision ensures that ICE stays out of New York City jails and that our sanctuary city laws are upheld.”

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

@maketheroadny.bsky.social: “This decision is a victory that we should never have had to win in the first place. Allowing ICE presence at Rikers would have opened the doors to further terrorizing immigrant New Yorkers and encouraged the current administration’s mass deportation plans"

“This decision is a victory that we should never have had to win in the first place. Allowing ICE presence at Rikers would have opened the doors to further terrorizing immigrant New Yorkers and encouraged the current administration’s mass deportation plans,” said Natalia Aristizabal, Deputy Director at Make the Road New York. “We applaud the NYS Supreme Court’s decision to stand with immigrant New Yorkers in this critical moment. We also commend the Speaker, the City Council, and Public Advocate for their strong leadership against the Mayor’s attempt to circumvent the law, potentially putting thousands of people at risk and instilling more fear in our communities. We will continue to fight to prevent our communities from being criminalized and placed in deportation proceedings in New York, and shut down Rikers once and for all.”

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

Full statement can be found here: www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/community-or...

Screenshot of the press release without organizational statements

"New York — Today the ICE Out! NYC Coalition, the Shut Rikers campaign, The New York City Anti-Violence Project and allies applauded Judge Rosado’s court order in New York Supreme Court striking down Mayor Adams’s attack on sanctuary, Executive Order 50.

In April, the Adams administration made good on the Mayor’s threat to return ICE to operate on Rikers Island by entering an executive order establishing federal law enforcement space at Rikers, including for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This came after multiple meetings between the Mayor and Tom Homan, the “border czar” charged with carrying out Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Rikers Island has a long and documented history of violence, abuse, and mismanagement. Under Mayor Adams, the conditions at Rikers have worsened, and at least 45 people have died in NYC jails. In the last two weeks, three incarcerated people have died at Rikers. Instead of cozying up to Trump and attacking immigrants, the Mayor of the City of New York should be working to protect immigrants and shut down Rikers once and for all.

We are grateful for the leadership and action of our City Council and the Speaker, who stood up for our values as a city and stood against the Mayor’s plan to give ICE free rein to separate New Yorkers from their loved ones. To roll back the clock a decade would have fueled an unprecedented abuse of power against New Yorkers – especially Black, Latinx, other immigrants of color, and the LGBTQ community – at the same time that the violence, abuse and mismanagement at Rikers worsens daily.

We came together across sectors to make it clear that we stand with our city’s historic sanctuary laws and that New York City must never collude in the federal mass deportation agenda. Instead we must stand up for our immigrant neighbors and focus on action that ensures that all New Yorkers can thrive."

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 10

🚨NEW: Community Orgs, Advocates Celebrate Court Order Blocking Mayor’s Attempt to Bring ICE Back to Rikers: "We're grateful for @council.nyc.gov @nycspeakeradams.bsky.social who stood up for our values and against the Mayor’s plan to give ICE free rein to separate New Yorkers from loved ones."

Title reads "ICE Out! NYC Coalition, the Shut Rikers campaign, The New York City Anti-Violence Project and allies applauded Judge Rosado’s court order in New York Supreme Court striking down Mayor Adams’s attack on sanctuary, Executive Order 50"

"In April 2025, the Adams administration made good on the Mayor’s threat to return ICE to operate on Rikers Island by entering an executive order establishing federal law enforcement space at Rikers, including for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This came after multiple meetings between the Mayor and Tom Homan, the “border czar” charged with carrying out Trump’s mass deportation agenda." On the left are screenshots of news articles about Homan's visit with Adams.

"Rikers Island has a long and documented history of violence, abuse, and mismanagement." Below this text are screenshots of news article headlines that highlight the violence, abuse, and mismanagement.
"Under Mayor Adams, the conditions at Rikers have worsened, and at least 45 people have died in NYC jails. In the last two weeks, three incarcerated people have died at Rikers. Instead of cozying up to Trump and attacking immigrants, the Mayor of the City of New York should be working to protect immigrants and shut down Rikers once and for all."

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 9

🚨 STATEMENT: IDP applauds court order striking down Mayor Eric Adams' attack on sanctuary. "Together we are clear and unequivocal: our city’s historic sanctuary laws ensure that the rights of New Yorkers are protected and that our city resources help all New Yorkers thrive." https://t.co/k1w3hmV8Kc

IDP Applauds Court Order Striking Down Mayor Adams' Attack on Sanctuary

Today, Judge Mary Rosado of New York Supreme Court declared that the Mayor Adams administration’s Executive Order 50, which sought to return ICE to operate on Rikers Island and which was challenged by the New York City Council, is null and void.

We applaud this decision and are thankful for the quick action and leadership of our City Council and the Speaker who stood up for our values as a city, and stood against the Mayor’s plan to give ICE free reign to separate New Yorkers from their loved ones. To roll back the clock a decade would have fueled unprecedented abuse of power against New Yorkers – especially Black, Latinx and other immigrants of color - at the same time that the violence, abuse and mismanagement at Rikers worsens daily.

We are proud that organizations working with domestic violence survivors and LGBTQ New Yorkers, for civil rights and immigrant justice, built a strong coalition that rallied,

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 4

The immigration and criminal legal systems have been entangled for decades, and the admin's resurfacing defunct prisons is increasingly exposing what we already know to be true: the cruelty and inhumanity of detention and deportation. Read the full thread for more context 👇

Shannon Heffernan @shannonheffernan.bsky.social · Sep 4

It's now official, ICE is opening a detention center in the notorious Angola prison. This is part of a larger trend: The U.S. carceral system becoming increasingly entangled with immigration detention. Here are two big things I am tracking about this trend, and why it matters.... (1/)

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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · Sep 3

Everyone deserves safety + dignity no matter where they live or where their family is from. For over 20 yrs, we've worked to secure fairness and justice for immigrants. Get our Know Your Rights resources to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community 💬 immigrantdefenseproject.org/kyr