NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) – Immigration raids that were postponed a couple of weeks ago to give Congress time to work on the border crisis are expected Sunday—sparking protests in New York City and comment from Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, head of the New York Archdiocese, spoke to reporters after a noon Mass at the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Washington Heights. Cabrini is the patron saint of immigrants.
Dolan said that the Catholic Church will be helping undocumented immigrants and that Catholic charities will have hotlines working over the weekend. He said a nation has the right to defend its borders but that people should be treated honestly and fairly.
“There’s so much confusion and fear that it’s impossible to justly administer these decrees that seem to come down every day,” Dolan told reporters. “Even people who are trying to obey the law and trying to get their documents in order are so afraid and so confused that they don’t know what to do.”
Dolan said people are fearful they’ll be arrested if they go outside or drive and that their children will be followed home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Democratic leaders have been advising people living in the country illegally to be careful about opening their doors. They’re reminding them that they’re not obliged to answer if ICE agents don’t have authorization signed by a judge.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has said New York City would not cooperate with ICE. And Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged New Yorkers needing immigration help to contact the New York State New Americans Hotline.
There are reports that ICE agents were turned away by families during attempted raids in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and East Harlem on Saturday.
Speaker Corey Johnson spoke about the upcoming raids across from the Statue of Liberty on Saturday.
“We forever proud to be a part of this incredible city of immigrants, where 37 percent of New Yorkers are foreign born, and 44 percent of our workforce in NYC is foreign born,” Johnson said.
Hundreds of immigrant advocates held a Manhattan vigil Friday night ahead of Sunday’s expected nationwide crackdown.
The arrests in major cities, including New York, are to start Sunday and are being led by ICE agents. Protesters urged people who are targets to hide during sweeps that President Trump said would continue after this weekend.
Vice President Mike Pence visited an overcrowded immigration detention center along the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday. He said the conditions were unacceptable but praised agents and emphasized the administration is focusing on arresting criminals.