Immigration advocacy groups are calling on New Yorkers to join them in Foley Square at noon today. It's a National Day of Action to call attention to what they're calling a "cruel" immigration system.

People in roughly a dozen cities across the country are asking the Biden administration to follow through on promises to close immigration detention centers and put an end to deportations. Catherine Barnett, co-director of the New York group Freedom to Thrive, said this will be an opportunity to hear from people who are directly impacted by the immigration system.

"Folks who have been held in detention, families who have loved ones who have been in detention," she said. "There's opportunity to provide for family reunification and mental-health services - for people to be able to participate in a way that they're not able to do when they are being locked away."

In New York, Barnett said, an Assembly bill known as the Dignity Not Detention Act is currently in committee. It is similar to one passed in New Jersey, which led to detention facilities being closed. It would allow for people to wait for the decision on their immigration status without being locked up.

Barnett said there's a lot of misinformation about the immigration system. She added that many people even believe the current process is working.

"Some locations feel like there's an economic benefit to keeping people in cages, because you're providing jobs in particular parts of the state," she said. "We need to think about different ways we can provide economic incentives, economic support for individuals and communities, that are not relying on us expressing the worst of our humanity."

Barnett said her hope for the rally and the National Day of Action is to raise awareness, and move toward creating systems that prioritize the health and well-being of all people.

A coalition of Connecticut advocates wants lawmakers to strengthen the state's immigration law.

Lawmakers have discussed bolstering the Trust Act after President Donald Trump signed 10 executive orders targeting undocumented immigrants, though some face legal challenges.

Chelsea-Infinity Gonzalez, director of public policy and advocacy for the ACLU of Connecticut, said bolstering the Trust Act aligns with similar regional action.

"Ensuring effective enforcement to a private right of action, ensuring there are pathways for individuals to report any violation to the Trust Act, eliminating unnecessary data sharing and collection, and making it clear Connecticut resources and officials can't be used for any federal immigration enforcement," Gonzalez outlined.

She added the Trust Act is a good first step but strengthening the enforcement mechanism ensures immigrants do not have to fear law enforcement. The primary challenge to get reforms is resistance from lawmakers because of what Gonzalez called the politicization of immigrants. Lawmakers' feedback ranges from strong approval to deep concern for public safety.

Beyond politicization, Gonzalez argued immigrants and the Trust Act have been victims of misinformation from lawmakers. Gonzalez noted some falsely claimed the Trust Act would make Connecticut a sanctuary for immigrants to commit crimes. She acknowledged a hyper-focus on cases like the killing of Laken Riley becomes political talking points and distracts from the issues immigrants face.

"A lot of it is rooted in isolated instances that are being overly politicized to undermine protections for immigrant families who rely on things like the Trust Act or on other protections," Gonzalez contended.

There are concerns the newly passed federal Laken Riley Act, mandating detention for illegal immigrants arrested on some minor charges, could also impact the Trust Act. Gonzalez noted there is plenty of overlap but strengthening state laws protects immigrants from federal actions spurred on by the new law.


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Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special legislative session to advance his immigration agenda in Florida, which is closely aligned with President Donald Trump's policies.

However, he faces a rare standoff with Republican leaders. Although they support Trump's agenda, Florida's Senate president and House speaker have described today's emergency session as "completely irresponsible" and "premature."

Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, and other critics called the proposals extreme and harmful. Smith said he hopes legislative leadership, with its GOP supermajority, will stand firm against the call.

"Simply to gavel in and gavel out, adjourn immediately, and meet the constitutional requirement to just be present, because these issues deserve attention," Guillermo Smith urged. "But they also deserve the time and scrutiny, and the process."

DeSantis has released a pared-back agenda that includes appointing a state immigration enforcement officer to work with the federal government, and allowing the transport of undocumented migrants out of the U.S. But he removed an initial proposal to criminalize local police and officials for not fully cooperating with immigration directives.

Smith also voiced concern about Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in schools. He pointed out Orange County school officials recently shared information with families on how to handle new federal immigration directives.

"Even the idea of ICE agents, assisted by local law enforcement, showing up to our public schools and potentially interviewing and detaining students without parental notification is a scary thing that, unfortunately, may be a reality as a result of these extreme policies," Smith emphasized.

Smith added Floridians should stay vigilant and he thinks many would oppose the policies. This session marks a critical test of DeSantis' influence and the Legislature's willingness to scrutinize his agenda.


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Faith leaders nationwide are pushing back against President Donald Trump's assertion that churches are no longer considered safe spaces for undocumented immigrants.

The Department of Homeland Security has rescinded expanded guidelines set by the Biden administration that thwarted arrests in so-called sensitive areas - including churches, schools, and medical facilities.

Rev. Norman Allen of First Parish in Portland said the change goes against long-standing tradition.

"The idea that you could go into a place of worship and create fear," said Allen, "it seems not in keeping with some core values that we have as Americans."

Allen said he hopes to share information with congregants about immigrants' rights to pass along to anyone who needs it.

A recent report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy reveals the roughly 5,000 undocumented immigrants in Maine contribute more than $15 million in state and local taxes.

Immigration officials in the current administration say Biden's decision to classify certain areas as off limits to enforcement agents helped "murderers and rapists" to avoid arrest.

But research shows undocumented immigrants are far less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens.

Allen said his parish has been involved in social justice efforts for 350 years, and will continue to care for its neighbors.

"The sense that churches, or hospitals, or schools, are hiding someone who is dangerous is simply false," said Allen. "The whole thing seems more about engendering fear than it does about any kind of practical purpose."

Allen said he has enormous admiration for Bishop Mariann Budde with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C.

He said she set a high bar for other clergy to follow when she asked President Trump to have mercy upon those who are scared - and Rev. Allen hopes to live up to it.