Biaggi, Engel lead rally against ICE presence in local courts, call for new state laws
Elected officials, local activists and participants gathered Thursday near the Daronco Town House in the cold spring drizzle for a rally organized by State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi in response to three Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers appearing at a town court hearing in the case of Carlos Duque, an undocumented immigrant.
Duque was arrested by Pelham Manor police on April 2 for allegedly driving with a fake license. According to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Duque faces charges of second degree forgery and possession of a forged instrument, both Class D felonies.
The rally was held to call on the New York State Legislature to pass legislation that would protect illegal immigrants. Specifically, Biaggi spoke of the Protect Our Courts Act, which would prohibit ICE arrests in state courts, and the Driver’s Licenses Access and Privacy Act, also known as the Green Light bill, which would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain New York State driver’s licenses.
Biaggi closed her short speech by asking that citizens continue to work through municipal governments to make change and to remain vigilant and help those in need.
“Stationing ICE agents outside of courthouses is a betrayal of our values,” said Congressman Eliot Engel. “This is America—we should be focused on welcoming immigrants, not deporting them.”
He said America is a nation of immigrants and that ICE is “out of control.”
County Legislator Terry Clements pointed to the importance of immigrants in forming the backbone of Westchester County and in helping to construct many significant structures in Westchester.
Vanessa Agudello, manager of member engagement for the Hudson Valley at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), specifically endorsed the Green Light Act.
“By continuing to bar our immigrant community members from gaining access to drivers’ licenses, we are effectively putting our most vulnerable neighbors in harm’s way,” she said.
Jennifer Hernandez, organizing coordinator for Make the Road New York, a grassroots organization that seeks to enact social change, began to chant, “ICE out of courts,” which the crowd picked up and repeated.
Duque’s wife Melissa spoke briefly, saying that her husband is a good man and describing the guiding influence he had on his daughter, who is now in college.
Duque’s next hearing on the charges will take place May 16 in Pelham Town Court. During that time, he will remain in Westchester County Jail.
Ben Glickman is a freshman at Brown University. He started his journalism career writing for the school newspaper, the Pel Mel, as a columnist and editorial...
Liz Massie • Apr 26, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Great coverage as always, PE!
Before 2002, anyone who could pass the road test could have a NY drivers license, regardless of immigration status. That kept our roads safer, our DMV better funded, insurance companies happier. Since 911, that is no longer the case in NY state. No matter how you feel about immigration, road safety impacts all of us and our families every day. Drivers Licenses For All is a critical public safety matter.
This man has a wife and three children, one of whom is in college, one who has autism. He supports them as a handyman in Pelham, employed by affluent homeowners there. I wonder how many people living in Westchester had ancestors who were immigrants and did what they had to do to make a new life for their families. My guess is every single one of us.
Vincent J. Kain • Apr 26, 2019 at 2:35 pm
IMO This is wrong on so many levels. I hope that the agents in Massachusetts are available to make a stop in Pelham to issue additional summons.