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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Jonathan Lam, Community Organizing Coordinator of New York Refugee and Migrants Rights Task Force

6:15:11

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125 sec

Jonathan Lam, representing the New York Refugee and Migrants Rights Task Force, shared his family's refugee experience and urged the council to protect migrants and refugees in New York City. He emphasized the global displacement crisis and the vital role of immigrants in the community.

Highlighted the need for investing in housing, education, and services for migrants instead of promoting anti-immigrant rhetoric
Mentioned Amnesty International's human rights blueprint for addressing immigration issues
Called for support of the Destination Reception Assistance Act to improve resettlement programs for asylum seekers

Jonathan Lam

6:15:11

Yes.

6:15:11

Hello.

6:15:12

Okay.

6:15:13

Good morning, or good afternoon now.

6:15:16

My name is Jonathan Liam, and I am the community organizing coordinator for New York's Refugee and Migrants Rights Task Force.

6:15:24

Nearly, 50 years ago, my parents fled to Vietnam War during the 19 seventies.

6:15:30

They share stories of their horrifying experiences, witnessing violence, bombings, and spending days at sea in a boat, facing threats from pirates, and enduring life in a refugee camp on Budai Budong Island in Malaysia.

6:15:42

My father lost his own dad during the war.

6:15:46

The stories of displacement, resilience, and survival is not unique, and it reflects the struggles of millions of migrants and refugees around the world.

6:15:53

Today, we have over 117,000,000 people globally, being forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, and devastating effects of climate change.

6:16:04

In New York City, we are seeing a growing influx of migrants seeking safety and stability, yet instead of investing into housing, education, and services to support these individuals, we are seeing a growing amount of anti immigrant rhetoric.

6:16:18

I stand before you today to remind us all that immigrants are the backbone of our communities.

6:16:23

Immigrants keep our economy running during a pandemic.

6:16:26

They are our, small business owners, street vendors owners, and teachers.

6:16:31

I urge this council to take meaningful action to protect migrants and refugees in New York and reject Trump's mass deportation and anti immigrant agenda.

6:16:40

Last year, Amnesty International released a human rights blueprint, a framework that outlines key research and recommendations to help both local and national leaders in addressing immigration and the over militarization at our US and a border.

6:16:52

In October, we organized and mobilized over 70 New Yorkers to attend a regional activism conference here in New York City and organize around the destination reception, assistance act on a federal level, which would improve our resettlement programs to properly support newly arrived asylum seekers.

6:17:08

We need to ensure a human response to the needs of arriving migrants, invest into immigrant services, affordable housing, and

Manuel Castro

6:17:16

Thank you

Justin Srey

6:17:16

for your testimony.

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Testimony by Darnell Benoit, Founder of Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project, on Immigrant Student Safety and Education