October 20, 2020

Contact: Daniel Ball, dball@bds.org

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY-IN-CHARGE OF BDS’ DETAINED DEPORTATION DEFENSE TEAM ON INCREASED ICE RAIDS IN NEW YORK METRO AREA

(BROOKLYN, NY) – Andrea Sáenz, Attorney-in-Charge of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) for Brooklyn Defender Services, released the following statement about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) increased home raids, detention, and new deportation cases against immigrants in the New York area amidst the COVID-19 pandemic:

“After months of limited activity, ICE has increased operations, raiding homes and arresting and detaining immigrants, as the danger of a second wave of the pandemic looms over New York City. These raids come as the death toll of immigrants in ICE detention is higher than it has been in the last fifteen years. ICE enforcement and detention is racist, inhumane, and a danger to us all. ICE must cease their raids, free all immigrants from their jails, and allow people to remain safely with their families. This latest reckless operation adds to the long list of reasons why ICE must be abolished.”

BACKGROUND: Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is a public defender organization serving tens of thousands of Brooklyn residents each year since 1996. Our mission is to provide high-quality and client-centered criminal, family, and immigration legal representation, as well as civil legal services, social work support and advocacy for people who cannot afford an attorney. Since the pandemic struck, BDS’ New York Immigrant Family Unity Project has taken successful legal action causing ICE to release 75% of all the detained immigrants we serve.

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