PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Claudia Valdivia, Member of the Public, on Immigrant Community Concerns
2:54:11
ยท
7 min
Claudia Valdivia, speaking through a Spanish interpreter, expresses deep concern about the impact of the incoming Trump administration on immigrant communities in New York City. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining New York as a sanctuary city and calls for stronger protections for immigrants.
- Highlights the fear of family separations and the potential chaos for US-born children of immigrants
- Stresses the economic contributions of immigrants to the city and country
- Urges city authorities not to leave immigrants unprotected and to continue supporting them in this "big fight"
Claudia Valdivia (via Spanish Interpreter)
2:54:11
Okay.
2:54:13
I'm very sad and afflicted for what is happening to my immigrant community here in the United States.
2:54:27
I'm sad about myself because we have been harassed by all these things.
2:54:36
With a new administration that's coming of the president Donald Trump.
2:54:46
I feel that our immigrant community is basically being attacked by him and his organization.
2:54:59
He's, accusing us of things that completely false.
2:55:03
Like, he's saying things like we are coming to steal the jobs from the American people.
2:55:08
He even accuses that we are eating animals.
2:55:11
That's not true.
2:55:20
It's very important that your city maintains excel as a sanctuary city for all of us.
2:55:38
The majority of the people in New York are immigrants, so immigrant distance.
2:55:43
And they only come in here for a to get a better job, to have a better future that our countries are not giving us.
2:55:59
I don't think it's fair that we are being attacked, and we also have been unprotected.
2:56:16
Okay.
2:56:16
I think we have been unprotected, and we are not being protected enough by mister Moja that he's in charge of this.
2:56:33
Okay.
2:56:34
I heard the comments and the plans that they that they have about all these.
2:56:39
But I don't think they have any concrete plan how to address this immigration problem and these attacks that are coming to us.
2:56:56
Our immigrant people are very afraid, and also they are very scared of the family separations that could be coming now that Donald Trump will be coming to the presidency.
2:57:17
If he's doing this, our families will be completely destroyed.
2:57:21
As you know, we're immigrants, but we also had children who are US citizens.
2:57:32
And will be a totally chaos here for New York City and New York State.
2:57:48
Because the Chile will be completely vulnerable.
2:57:51
They will not have no choice.
2:57:52
They've had they will have 2 choices.
2:57:54
Or come back to a country that's strange for them because they were born in the US, or to stay in the US.
2:58:01
They will not know what to do.
2:58:09
And you remember, there also some immigrants and people who are running away from their countries.
2:58:16
And the reason of this is that they are running away because their lies in in in danger in those native countries.
2:58:29
Many people in our communities don't count with legal representation yet.
2:58:46
And and this this happens will be terrible because as you know, we also are potential weapon potential weapon for the economy of the United States.
2:58:54
We also provide health to the economy or our country.
2:59:06
And this will put in danger many good people.
2:59:08
Like, for example, the people who deliver food.
2:59:11
Right?
2:59:11
They will be victims of this.
2:59:31
Many people will be victims of death.
2:59:32
As you know, as immigrants, we're also taking care of the children of American families.
2:59:38
We're cleaning the households, the houses of these American families as well.
2:59:55
As you remember, New York is well known because it's a city of immigrants and also have love immigrants and also they always try to protect us all the time.
3:00:14
It's very essential to protect New York immigrants.
3:00:18
As you know, the symbol of the Statue of Liberty that was given by France to us is the symbol of the immigration or the United Center protection that they should provide us.
3:00:57
And it's not fair that our children, instead of thinking to be in a police office, being something, they have to be thinking something else.
3:01:04
They have to be worried that they're going to separate them from their parents.
3:01:09
This is very sad.
3:01:19
Okay.
3:01:19
The only thing I want to ask of you, the authorities on New York, don't leave us unprotected.
3:01:25
We are depending from all of you.
3:01:27
Okay, I know that many of you are with us in this big fight that we have.
3:01:43
So I believe this is very important for all of us.
3:01:47
Okay.
3:01:47
Thank you.