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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Yesenia Mata, Executive Director of La Colmena
2:52:19
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143 sec
Yesenia Mata, Executive Director of La Colmena, an immigrant rights organization on Staten Island, testifies about the critical work they do in supporting immigrant communities and the challenges they face. She urges the council to continue and expand funding for immigrant-serving organizations, especially in Staten Island.
- La Colmena provides education, cultural support, organizing, and economic development services to immigrant workers.
- They offer community sessions and legal consultations to combat misinformation and fraud targeting immigrants.
- Mata highlights the lack of support from their local congress member and emphasizes the need for city funding to continue their work.
Yesenia Mata
2:52:19
Good afternoon chairs and council members.
2:52:21
My name is Yesenia Mata, the executive director of La Cormena, an immigrant rights organizations on Staten Island.
2:52:29
Our mission is to empower the immigrant workers through education, culture, organizing, and economic development.
2:52:36
And today, I am here with our nonprofit sisters from from Staten Island.
2:52:42
Earlier, you heard from Miranda, La Colmena's organizing coordinator, who at once was a volunteer to now being the leading organizer at La Colmena, empowering immigrant workers to advocate for themselves and who through the support of La Colmena won her asylum case and is now a US citizen.
2:53:01
So I'm proud to see Miranda here today testifying.
2:53:05
This is just an example of the important role that La Colmena plays in the lives of immigrant workers on Staten Island.
2:53:11
As Miranda mentioned, we hold regular community sessions to hear directly from our community.
2:53:17
And with the support of our trusted consultant attorneys, we hold consultations to provide accurate, reliable information.
2:53:24
Too often, our community comes to us after encountering misinformation, especially online or through word-of-mouth.
2:53:32
In some cases, community members have been misled by individuals claiming to be attorneys, claiming that they can offer a speedy citizenship process, going as far as creating fake USCIS documents and impersonating judges, which is completely insane and we are afraid that it may increase.
2:53:51
More recently, we've seen people arriving at our doors with deportation notices or unsure how to navigate the new immigrant registry requirements.
2:54:00
And this is why I'm here to highlight the critical work we've been doing.
2:54:04
We thank you for your support in the past, but we urge you to please continue protecting and expanding city funding for immigrant serving organization, especially in Staten Island.
2:54:15
And to the point mentioned earlier earlier about our congress member, Nicole Melitakis, there's no support that immigrant groups like La Colmena will receive from her.
2:54:25
On the contrary, she keeps pushing her far right and racist agenda.
2:54:29
So this is why if at a federal level we cannot be supported, then we know we can count on you.
2:54:35
Please don't forget about La Colmena.
2:54:37
Please don't forget about Staten Island.
2:54:38
Thank you for your time and for your continued commitment to justice.