For Immediate Release: January 24, 2025
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
New York, NY– In the last few days, communities have lived in fear and uncertainty after the U.S Immigration and Customs Agency (ICE) began conducting raids across the country. Below is a statement from Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation, in response to the raids:
“It’s clear that President Trump’s administration is laser-focused on instilling fear and demonizing the immigrant community instead of fixing our broken immigration system. The mass ICE raids started this week have separated families, hurt the economy, and already resulted in the wrongful arrest of a U.S. citizen. The raids are fostering fear in our communities, limiting people’s ability to work and to school, and generally pushing people to live in the shadows. There have also been alarming reports that some of these raids were conducted without a warrant, a clear violation of constitutional rights, and that ICE offices have been assigned deportation quotas.
The surge in immigration raids that are targeting our communities is bad policy and a repudiation of American democratic values. What’s even more alarming is that President Trump’s actions have shown a complete disregard for his campaign promise to only focus on people convicted of violent crimes. Instead, recent raids have disregarded the protections normally provided for immigrants without a criminal record who simply want to work and take care of their families.
Hispanic Federation will remain steadfast in our support for immigrant communities. We urgently call on state and local governments to protect their immigrant communities. The federal government cannot run unchecked; local jurisdictions have the power to protect immigrants by creating a haven from unjust federal persecution.
We will continue to work closely with our member agencies in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to remind the communities we serve about their rights and connect them with much-needed resources.”
###
About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latinos. With programs in 40 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.