TESTIMONY
Carlos Talasa on the Rise of ICE Detentions and Defending Detained Immigrant New Yorkers
3:44:35
·
167 sec
Carlos Talasa testifies about the critical work of the Bronx Defenders in defending detained immigrant New Yorkers and the alarming increase in ICE detentions.
- The Bronx Defenders, in collaboration with other organizations, requests $16.6 million in funding to continue their work defending detained immigrants.
- Talasa shares concerning statistics about the increase in ICE detentions, highlighting a 45% increase from the previous year and the challenges faced by detainees.
- The testimony details ICE's aggressive tactics, such as targeting long-time permanent residents and increased home raids.
- The urgent need for continuous council support and the strengthening of detainer laws is emphasized, especially in light of upcoming federal elections and rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
Karla Ostolaza
3:44:35
Good afternoon.
3:44:36
My name is Carlos Talasa, and I'm the managing director of immigration practice at the Bronx defenders.
3:44:41
Thank you, Sherabiles.
3:44:42
And this committee for the chance to speak about our work defending detained immigrants immigrant New Yorkers.
3:44:48
The committee's leadership was essential to the launching of New York immigrant family unit project, and I felt 10 years ago, and it's continued unwavering support, has saved lives and brought hope to thousands of immigrants being immigrant families in despair.
3:45:02
Together with Brooklyn Lade found their services and the legal aid society, we're requesting level funding of 16 point 6,000,000 so that we can continue our critical work.
3:45:11
Today, I'd like to share some information about ISIS's rise in the tension, we will get into other areas of need and in our written testimony, but I wanted to share a little bit about ISIS.
3:45:24
Rising detention because it's a concerning matter for us.
3:45:29
39,000 people are currently in highest detention.
3:45:32
These are 39,000.
3:45:34
Human beings who have been separated from their families, communities, putting shackles, throwing jail cells with abysmal conditions, and expected to navigate a highly complex legal system with our representation.
3:45:46
The 39,000 people I hold any given day represent an alarming 45% increase from last year.
3:45:53
These are ISS numbers.
3:45:54
These are not CBP numbers.
3:45:56
It's not the border patrol numbers.
3:45:58
Our experience on the ground matches the story told by this nationwide statistic.
3:46:04
This fiscal year, our holistic teams made up of attorney social work Gursley advocates and administrative professionals have been working tirelessly to serve rapidly increasing detained population.
3:46:15
ICE is aggressively moving to detain New Yorkers based on minor even these miscriminal charges, as well as targeting of long time permanent residents for all convictions.
3:46:24
Without regard for their rehabilitation or their role in their families and communities.
3:46:28
We have also noticed an increase in home rates in the city and of our rests at ISIS offices when immigrants go in for regular checkings to try to meet reporting requirements.
3:46:38
We expect this trend to escalate as the anti immigrant sentiment continues to take hold.
3:46:45
Given the upcoming federal elections, we're also preparing for a potential new demonstration that will double down on this trend.
3:46:52
We need the council to continue its unwavering support of an IFAB, so we can continue providing high quality client center representation to detain immigrant New Yorkers as they are increasingly target for detention and exile.
3:47:04
And we also appreciate and and, you know, ask for the continued support of of the council in maintaining our detainer loss and continue to strain the run into those laws because it's completely connected how our our communities are targeted and and funnel to the deportation system.
3:47:21
Thank you.