Report calls for transparency and a complete overhaul of the economic development system!

On August 2, 2018, we released a report with the Fiscal Policy Institute showing how Governor Cuomo’s signature economic development program shortchanges communities of color — read about it in The New York Times.

In the report, “Shortchanged: Racial Disparities in New York’s Economic Development Programs,” we call for transparency and a complete overhaul of the economic development system in order to invest in strategies proven to support all New Yorkers, including people of color.

NYS Pension Funds divest from private prisons and immigrant detention centers!

On July 13th, 2018, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced that the New York State pension funds will divest from private prison and immigrant detention companies! This is a huge victory for our movement!

It sends a strong message: New York won’t be complicit in the mass criminalization of people of color and the tearing apart of immigrant families. We applaud Comptroller DiNapoli for making New York the first state to divest from private prisons, a bold action to stand with our community. And we thank Enlace for working with us on this important effort.

Demand #FreedomForImmigrants!

What is happening at the border, and across the US, is an abomination. Hundreds of children are being detained in NY, without their parents, with dozens flown here from Texas. On June 21st, we jumped into action at LaGuardia airport, to welcome them and let them know they are not alone. Trump’s executive order to detain families together is not a solution. It is an attempt to impose an indefinite jail sentence on entire families.

Take action: Sign our petition to unite Pablo with this family & join us for Families Belong Together actions on Sat. June 30th.

Exposing the Corporate Backers of Hate!

On April 30, 2018, We released a report as part of the Corporate Backers of Hate campaign.  It exposes financial institutions and private companies that have helped propel Trump’s agenda.

“Bankrolling Oppression: How Wall Street Companies Finance the Private Prison and Immigrant Detention Industry” reveals how JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and BlackRock have become a critical piece of a $5 billion industry. Led by for-profit prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group, these Wall Street companies are profiting off of tearing apart families.

Our demand is clear: Stop financing hate!

Fighting for a clean #DreamActNow!

Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has caused a humanitarian crisis: endangering the lives of 800,000 immigrant youth and their families. Every day,  more than 100 individuals lose DACA status. Trump has also left hundreds of thousands of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders in limbo.

We’re fighting back with everything we have and demanding that Congress take action in support of a clean Dream Act and protections for TPS holders.

Going to court to protect DACA

Together, with six Dreamers who are MRNY members, we filed the first lawsuit challenging the termination of DACA. In February 2018, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in our case, Batalla Vidal v. Nielson. The court recognized the “substantial and imminent irreparable harm” that DACA recipients would suffer should the program end.

This is the second time a federal judge has validated our claims — a major victory in a case that has the potential to benefit hundreds of thousands of immigrant families and shift this country’s policy climate.

Now we’re in Westchester!

The Westchester Hispanic Coalition (WHC), which has provided trusted services to immigrants for 43 years, is merging with Make the Road New York. WHC will become the MRNY Westchester office, increasing organizing, policy, civic engagement, and media capacity in Westchester County.

Together, we have already expanded critical services in Westchester and got the local Immigrant Protection Act passed! We are excited to join forces and welcome WHC’s clients and staff to the MRNY family.