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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Miranda Miranda, Organizing Associate at La Colmena
1:33:55
·
3 min
Miranda Miranda, representing La Colmena, an immigrant rights organization in Staten Island, urges the City Council to continue funding immigrant-serving organizations. She highlights La Colmena's work in community education, legal consultation, and combating misinformation affecting immigrant communities.
- La Colmena provides crucial support to immigrants, including regular community sessions and legal consultations.
- The organization has encountered cases of fraud and misinformation targeting immigrants, with some paying large sums for false promises of citizenship.
- Miranda emphasizes the importance of continued support for immigrant-serving organizations, especially in Staten Island, in the face of federal-level challenges.
Miranda Miranda
1:33:55
Good morning, chairs and councilmember.
1:33:57
My name is Miranda, and I'm the organizing associate a la Colmena, an immigrant rights organization proudly rooted in Staten Island.
1:34:08
Today, I'm here with my sister, organization who will be testifying as well.
1:34:16
At La Colmena, our mission is to empower immigrants workers through education, culture, organizing, economic development.
1:34:26
In Staten Island, La Colmena has been unapologetically advocating for our immigrants community even in the face of backlash.
1:34:39
At La Colmena, we hold regular community sessions to hear directly from our neighbors, listening to their fears and questions.
1:34:52
With the support of our trust consultant attorneys, we also provide consultation to provide accurate, reliable information.
1:35:05
Too often, community comes to us after encountering misinformation, especially online or through word-of-mouth.
1:35:16
In some cases, community members have paid over $3,000 and have been misled by individuals claiming to be attorneys, claiming that they can offer a speedy citizenship process, going as far as creating fake US CIS documents and impersonating jurors.
1:35:45
More recently, we have seen people arriving at our doors with deportation notice or unsure how to navigate the new immigrant register requirement.
1:35:59
And this is why I'm here, to highlight the critical work We have been doing and to urge this council to continue protecting and pending city funding for immigrants serving organizations, especially in Staten Island.
1:36:21
We are grateful for the support La Colmena has received in the past from this council.
1:36:29
But the war is far from over.
1:36:32
Now is the time to stay with us again because immigrants' communities are currently under attack.
1:36:43
If a federal level we cannot be supported, then we know we can count on you.
1:36:52
Please don't forget about La Colmena.
1:36:55
Please don't forget Stein Island.
1:36:57
Please don't forget about my sister organizations.
1:37:03
Thank you for your time and for your continued community.