Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters after
the Democrats’ policy luncheon, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday,
July 20, 2021. Associated Press/Jose Luis Magana/File
Caribbean Life, OCTOBER 8-14, 2021 3
By Tangerine Clarke
Residents of the 19th Senatorial District
in Brooklyn were treated to an
afternoon of community service, thanks
to Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, who
recently partnered with the Department
of Sanitation, American Debate League,
Campaign for hunger, and the Public
Library, for a back-to-school giveaway, in
front of the Canarsie Library where children
storytelling was a highlight.
Packages of dry goods and PPE were
also distributed.
The politician who represents the largest
Senate District in New York State,
which encompasses portions of Canarsie,
East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin,
Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine
Park, Flatlands, Ocean Hill and Starrett
City in Brooklyn despite having to reduce
her agenda due to the ongoing coronavirus
pandemic, continues to engage the
community through several initiatives.
The politician who will be seeking a
fifth team when voters go to the polls
for the Primary 2022, noted that there
is a separation of campaigning and community
outreach, but she never stops
reaching out to the community, because
she is not an elected official who only
engages the community during canvassing
season.
She is passionate about satisfying the
needs of the elderly that make up a large
part of her district, as well as interacting
with students in multiple learning
institutions that are in some 100 public,
parochial, and charter schools, in the
19th Senatorial District.
Sen. Persaud who thanked volunteers,
Karen Wharton and Amar Dyal, and
staff, Jennifer Viechweg-Horsford among
others, who helped to pack food items
and greet residents, was also delighted
to welcome NYPD police officers, signup
students for the debating team, and
handed out gift to youths who enjoyed
spinning a prize-winning wheel for gifts.
By Nelson A. King
Immigrant New Yorkers on Friday
increased the pressure on Senate Majority
Leader, Chuck Schumer to deliver on
citizenship in the federal budget reconciliation
package.
In front of Senator Schumer’s Manhattan
office, immigrant advocates
and community members urged the
Majority Leader to ignore the faulty
assessment offered by the parliamentarian
and fulfil the promise that Democrats
made to immigrant communities,
according to the New York Immigration
Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy
and advocacy organization for more
than 200 groups in New York State.
“Democrats in the House and Senate
have agreed immigration belongs in
budget reconciliation, and Americans
across the country overwhelmingly
support citizenship,” it said.
Immigrants, Assemblymember Jessica
Gonzalez-Rojas and allies demanded
that Majority Leader Schumer lead his
caucus to follow through on the promise
to create a pathway to citizenship for
millions of undocumented immigrants,
including Dreamers, Temporary Protected
Status (TPS) holders and immigrant
essential workers, “who have kept
this country running throughout the
pandemic,” NYIC said.
It said the historic budget package
would help create a pathway to citizenship
to over 463,000 immigrant New
Yorkers while boosting the US economy.
“Our elected officials need to remember
that they are accountable to the
people, not unelected bureaucrats in
Washington, D.C. Earlier this week,
we reminded Senator Schumer of that
when we rallied outside of his Brooklyn
home,” said Murad Awawdeh, NYIC’s
executive director. “Today, we doubled
down and brought the voices of
immigrant New York to his Manhattan
office.
“Our message could not be clearer;
Senator Schumer, Congressional Democrats,
and President Biden must listen
to a majority of American voters, follow
through on the promises made on the
campaign trail, and finally deliver a
pathway to citizenship for millions of
our community members,” he added.
“We deserve it and will accept nothing
less.”
“As essential workers, immigrant
communities across the country have
been at the frontlines of the COVID-19
fight. Here in New York, we continue to
see the lasting impact of the pandemic
on our undocumented members and
those with temporary status, as they
struggle with the financial, social, and
economic aftershock of the pandemic,”
said Robert Agyemang, NY director,
African Communities Together.
“A pathway to citizenship would not
only provide necessary protections for
huge parts of our community, but build
a stronger United States as we recover
from almost two years of job loss, overburdened
hospitals, and social isolation,”
he added. “We call Senate Majority
Leader Schumer, who expressed an
overwhelming commitment to providing
a pathway to citizenship for our
communities, to use every tool at his
disposal to get this over the finish line.
We cannot lose this opportunity. The
time is NOW.”
“We at AALDEF know that DACA was
never meant to be a long-term solution
for undocumented youth,” said Annie
J. Wang, director of Immigrant Justice
Project, Asian American Legal Defense
and Education Fund (AALDEF).
“Since 2012, AALDEF has provided
pro bono legal representation to undocumented
Asian American youth. In 2019
alongside a coalition of 42 civil rights
organizations, we submitted an amicus
brief focusing on the reliance interests
of DACA recipients and the real-life
adverse impact that dismantling DACA
would have on immigrant youth,” she
added. “Regardless of what the Senate
parliamentarian has said about the
immigration proposals presented to her
as part of the budget reconciliation
process, Senator Chuck Schumer and
members of his caucus need to show
leadership and deliver a path to citizenship
now for undocumented youth, TPS
holders, essential workers, and the rest
of the undocumented immigrant community.
These people are a vital part of
our country and deserve to be treated
with dignity and compassion.”
“Our communities worked tirelessly
to put Democrats in control of the
Senate, House of Representatives, and
White House,” said Natalia Aristizabal,
director of Immigrant Justice at the
Center for Popular Democracy. “We
did so because Democrats promised to
deliver on our priorities, including a
pathway to citizenship. We expect Democrats
to use every tool at their disposal
to deliver on their promise of a pathway
to citizenship now, through reconciliation.
Democrats must not allow the
misguided advice of an unelected parliamentarian
to be the last word. We
can’t wait.”
“Today, in front of Senator Schumer’s
office, our message is clear: Congress
must include a path to citizenship
in the budget reconciliation package,”
said Yaritza Mendez, co-director
of Organizing at Make the Road New
York. “Regardless of the parliamentarian
opinion, Senator Schumer must fulfil
promises made to immigrant communities.
Democrats have the power
in their hands to deliver citizenship to
millions — they can and must deliver.
This historic opportunity will change
the lives of millions of people, who for
decades have relentlessly fought for
immigration relief.”
Children received back-to-school
supplies during Senator Roxanne
J. Persaud’s community outreach.
The politician is pictured in front
of the Canarsie Library on Rockaway
Parkway, Brooklyn. Photo by
Tangerine Clarke
Immigrant New Yorkers double down
on Schumer for pathway to citizenship
Sen. Persaud
encourages
constituents to
get vaccinated