The Center for Advocacy, Support and Transformation in Southold, better known locally as CAST, has long been a refuge for immigrants looking for information on how to thrive in this country.
As new policies are being unveiled daily by the new federal administration in Washington, attendees at a Family Support & Immigration Resource Fair held at CAST on Tuesday, Jan. 21 had more questions than there are currently answers on how these policies may affect their lives.
Pictured Above: (l-r) CAST’s Client Support Services Coordinator Daniella Menjivar and NYS Office for New Americans Immigrant Community Liaison Rosa Montalvo Pacheco at CAST’s Family Support & Immigration Resource Fair on Jan. 21.
Legal Counsel Natalia Rodriguez, of the Central American Refugee Center (CARACEN), had been preparing to give a presentation to local high school students on applying for benefits at the event, but the students had one overwhelming question for her: “What will happen to me if my parent gets detained or deported?”
This question is one that cropped up repeatedly during the first Trump administration, and it’s one Ms. Rodriguez said she’s dealt with before. And she heard it on Tuesday not just from students who were worried for their own families, but from students who were personally unaffected, but were worried about what could happen to their friends.
She explained to the students the process by which their parents can file for “Standby Guardianship,” an 18-page form available on the New York State Unified Court System’s website, which must be signed by two witnesses and notarized, allowing their parents designate a person to care for them if they are detained.
She said the families should give a copy of the form to the guardian, which they can bring to Suffolk County Family or Surrogate Court if the child’s parents are detained or deported. They will then be granted guardianship for 60 days.
“They can get an extension, but what happens after 60 days, I don’t know,” said Ms. Rodriguez.
The lack of clear direction on how immigrants can proceed with their legal questions drove the need for the resource fair, says CAST Interim Executive Director Erica Steindl, who said the organization has worked for years to provide a safe space for immigrants in Southold.
“We want to pass along valid and accurate information, and make sure people make good choices,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges we see is for people who have started on a legal path and want to make sure it’s not stalled.”
CARACEN has long been a partner with CAST in helping immigrants on the North Fork navigate these challenges.
CAST plans to hold more informational seminars as national policy becomes more clear.
CAST’s Client Support Services Coordinator, Daniella Menjivar, was moved by the urgency the students from Mattituck High School brought to the question of guardianship, and said it’s especially important for them to know their rights if someone knocks on their door.
Should that happen, she says, they should not open their door, but should ask the person knocking to present their credentials, and ask if they have a warrant. They should ask the agent to slip that warrant under the door and see if it is signed by a judge — if it is only signed by an attorney, it is not a valid warrant.
Ms. Rodriguez, from CARACEN, agree.
“It may say Hon. before the person’s name. It will be clear that the signer is a judge,” she said. “If it’s signed by an attorney, they don’t have the right to come in the door.”
She added that Miranda rights apply to anyone who is detained in this country, regardless of their immigration status.
“If they can come in,” she said of the federal agents, “ask for an attorney, and remain silent.”
Ms. Menjivar and Ms. Steindl said CAST is expecting to hold upcoming informational sessions for the community.
“We felt it was important to have an initial meeting for people who are facing challenges,” said Ms. Steindl. We also want to help our neighbors. If we see a change in policy, we will also want to provide more information.”
For more information from CAST, call 631.477.1717.
CARACEN can be reached at 631.273.8721.
The local office of New York State’s Office for New Americans, which helps immigrants access services that are available to them, can be reached at 631.952.7901.
Southold Town is also planning an informational session on federal immigration policy with members of local law enforcement, possibly as soon as next week.
Southold Town Board members said at their Jan. 21 work session that a date has not yet been set.
“We’re not going to speculate on anything we don’t know,” said Town Supervisor Al Krupski of potential changes to immigration enforcement locally. “There’s a lot of debate, and we want to avoid speculation.”
“We want to provide accurate information,” agreed Councilwoman Anne Smith.
And accurate information is changing quickly. The following day, Jan. 22, the U.S. Justice Department issued a memorandum to its staff ordering U.S. attorneys to investigate and prosecute local law enforcement officials if they refuse to enforce new federal immigration policies enacted by Trump’s executive orders, and to mount legal challenges to state and local laws that are not in keeping with those orders.
Many of those orders affect areas where immigrants enter the United States, although the order of an end to birthright citizenship, which the administration planned to begin implementing with new births 30 days from its Jan. 20 signing, could have local impact. New York is among 22 states that, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, have already filed suit attempting to block this order, on the grounds that it is a violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“The great promise of our nation is that everyone born here is a citizen of the United States, able to achieve the American dream,” said New York State Attorney General Letitia James as the state filed suit Jan. 21. “This fundamental right to birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment and born from the ashes of slavery, is a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to justice. Our constitution is not open to reinterpretation by executive order or presidential decree. President Trump’s attempt to undermine the fundamental right to birthright citizenship is not just unconstitutional, it is profoundly dangerous. Today, we are suing to uphold the integrity of the U.S. Constitution and ensure the promise of birthright citizenship remains intact for all who are born here.”
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