Jennifer (via Spanish Interpreter)
4:13:22
My name is Jennifer, and I am an immigrant from Venezuela.
4:13:25
And I arrived in New York last year.
4:13:27
But when I came to New York when I came to New York, I came with many dreams to give a better life to my 2 children.
4:13:34
But that dream turned into a nightmare when local agencies violated the law and my rights when they shared my confidential information with ICE.
4:14:09
When I was at the shelter, I asked the shelter workers for therapy services for me and my children because of the trauma of our trip from Venezuela to the United States was affecting us greatly.
4:14:20
Instead of giving us therapy support, the shelter workers called ACS to talk to my children.
4:14:25
When ACS arrived, I didn't know they were investigating me, and I was under the impression that they were providing therapy support.
4:15:22
After ACS spoke with my children, I had an appointment with ICE.
4:15:25
When I went to my second appointment with ICE, they detained me.
4:15:29
And when I asked the ICE officer when they were going to release me, he mocked me and said that they were going to deport me because he had a criminal case against me.
4:15:37
I was shocked because I had never I never had any contact with the police.
4:15:42
I had a panic attack and passed out and was taken to the hospital.
4:15:45
My lawyer later discovered that ACS shared my confidential information with ICE, and that's why they detained me.
4:15:53
A month passed without being able to see or talk to my children.
4:15:56
With the support of my attorney, I was released, but I am still suffering from the trauma of the actions of ACS.
4:16:02
I'm here to reveal the injustices that also happened to many families across New York.
4:16:16
With the incoming Trump administration, what happened to me and my family will likely happen to many more New York families without impunity.
4:16:34
I stand here today to urge city officials to protect mothers and families like mine from local agency collusion with ICE.
4:16:54
I call on our council to pass council member Janice Bill intro 214 to create a system of accountability for the violation of the sanctuary laws that exist in New York City.
4:17:19
No agency should feel emboldened to violate the law, and there should be consequences for when they do.
4:17:24
Let's do what is right to keep families in New York City safe and together.
4:17:28
The time for our city council to act is now.
