TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014 • 6 B’WICK WANTS REFORM Rally Attendees Seek Federal Action On Immigration story and photo by Noah Zuss Elected officials and community advocates attended a forum at the Central Baptist Church in Bushwick Thursday, Aug. 7, urging immigration reform on local, state and national levels. Organized by Make The Road New York (MRNY), a communitybased nonprofit, the event was held to advocate for both federal and city efforts to protect immigrant families by providing relief from deportation, work authorization and the ability to travel; install legal protections and support for children arriving at the border alone; and bring an end to the city’s relationship with ICE, it was noted. After an individual is arrested and processed through the judicial system, ICE can make a request to the NYPD to have them held under a detainer request, MRNY Lead Organizer Daniel Coates said. The detainer “asks a local municipality to hold a person for 48 hours,” Coates said. Under certain criteria, including being found not guilty, having no prior criminal record or as a result of being arrested for a minor crime, advocates want the city to no longer honor any ICE detainment requests, Coates stated. The city has the power to vote to not collaborate with ICE, Coates said. “What we’re suggesting is the mayor can exercise discretion and not honor any of the requests,” he said. “While we have limited the collaboration over the years, we feel this is an opportunity to end it.” Coates also believes it’s an inefficient, costly system. “Of every 100 detainees that ICE requests 35 are blocked,” and “it costs money to hold a person,” he said.U rging action at the national level, MRNY handed out petitions for advocates to sign, and postcards to President Barack Obama asking him to take executive action. Daily phone calls to the White House from volunteers are ongoing as part of the effort as well, Coates said. Speakers at the forum, including Rep. Nydia Velázquez, want the president to prevent deportations and support immigrants. “And 65 percent of the American people support passing legislation to fix the broken immigration system,” Velázquez said. “The American -SEE FORUM ON PG. 26- Residents packed the Central Baptist Church in Bushwick for an immigration forum organized by community-based nonprofit Make The Road New York last Thursday, Aug. 7. ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - DANCECLUB All Inclusive Packages Starting at $29.95 •Hot Buffet Meal •Beverages •Cake •Centerpieces •Decorations •DJ Services •Laser Lighting Banquet Hall For Rent. Sweet Sixteens, Birthdays, Communions, Christenings, Weddings, Proms, Holiday Parties Dance Club International 718-326-2121 75-47 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, NY Call Now & End Your Tax Nightmare! ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - THETAXAD • Owe the IRS more than $10,000? • Being Audited? • Unfiled Tax Returns? • Wage & Bank Levies? Co-Author of the best selling book “Breaking the Tax Code” Salvatore P. Candela, EA, ATA, ABA Enrolled Agent - Tax Advisor The TaxAdvocate Group (T) 877.TAX.1040 (F) 718.894.4476 scandela@thetaxadvocategroup.com www.thetaxadvocategroup.com ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - DANNASPA
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