PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jorge Paz Reyes, Community Organizer at Mixteca
4:36:39
·
116 sec
Jorge Paz Reyes, a community organizer at Mixteca, testified against the 30/60 day shelter stay limit policy, highlighting its negative impact on providing services to asylum seekers in Sunset Park. He emphasized how the policy affects their ability to offer consistent support, particularly in immigration processes and case management.
- Mixteca serves the Spanish-speaking community, offering mental health, immigration services, workshops, and development trainings
- The policy is disrupting their ability to follow up with clients and provide necessary case management due to lack of stable addresses
- Reyes expressed gratitude for the hearing, which encouraged community members to provide testimony who initially weren't planning to speak
Jorge Paz Reyes
4:36:39
I can Ayala and council member Alexa Aveles.
4:36:58
My name is Jorge Paz Reyes.
4:36:59
I'm the community organizer at Misteca, a community based organization located in Sunset Park, and we serve mainly the Spanish speaking community.
4:37:08
We work directly with asylum seekers, many who are, living in shelters throughout the neighborhood.
4:37:13
And, of course, I'm here to speak against the, 3060 rule, and because it is really affecting the way we, provide these services to a lot of, the community that we serve.
4:37:26
We serve a variety of of services, including, from mental health to immigration services, as well as different workshops, and development trainings.
4:37:37
However, this policy is really affecting the way we can continue providing services.
4:37:43
And when it comes to immigration processes, a lot of them don't have an address.
4:37:47
A lot of them don't have the stability for us to do follow ups.
4:37:50
And we're trying to provide a lot of the case management that these immigrants need.
4:37:55
However, this, policy is really affecting the way we can do that work.
4:37:59
I had a whole statement prepared, but I know you guys have heard a lot today.
4:38:04
And I really want to thank you guys for creating this space, because the community members that we came here were encouraged to provide a testimony.
4:38:12
A lot of them, including both Teresa and Armando, who are here, were not planning to give a testimony, and were encouraged to do it due to the space that you guys have created.
4:38:23
And as a community organizer, I really thank you for that, and I really encourage the the the advocacy against this rule that is really affecting them.
4:38:32
So now I'll just pass the mic to them.
4:38:34
Thank you.
