ACTS-CNY

One family’s story: Bambi Rodriguez of Liverpool, says her husband, who is not a U.S. citizen, will return to Honduras

Syracuse Post-Standard

By Bambi Rodriguez

I was born and raised in Syracuse. My mother suffered from addiction and left my siblings and me in my father’s care; my father followed suit and left us, too. I was 1 years old. Since then, it hasn’t been easy. I have dreaded the day - Thursday - when my children, Joel and Daniel, will have to live without their father by their side.

Thursday my husband, Freddy Rodriguez, will voluntarily leave the United States and go back to his country of origin (Honduras). In 2003, Freddy crossed the border into Arizona. He had decided to risk his life and walk across the dessert with the sole purpose to help his impoverished family and his ailing mother.

We met shortly after that and fell in love. Two years later, we had Joel in Syracuse. Joel was 1 year old when Freddy went out for pizza one night but did not return. The police had stopped him because of his skin color, had asked him for his immigration status and had called immigration authorities to detain him. I did not know about his whereabouts for three full days. I was eight months pregnant with Daniel. I was terrified.

Continue Reading »

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Dozens of people gathered for a prayer vigil in downtown Syracuse in hopes of raising awareness for immigration reform.

See video.

The Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse sponsored the vigil. Their message — to call on Senator Charles Schumer to support comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

Many members of the Alliance say that too many immigrants are trapped in a system that makes it difficult to obtain lawful status as American citizens.

“We’re here because so many of us in our community are really broken-hearted in the way that families are being separated. Children from their parents, spouses and partners from their beloved,” said Plymouth Church Reverend Craig Schaub.

Reform legislation will be introduced into the U.S. Senate in the coming weeks.

The ACTS Civil Rights for Immigrants Team just held a successful rally yesterday Feb. 2 in front of Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office in Syracuse. The CRI Team hand delivered during the rally to Sen. Schumer’s regional director Julie Miner a letter calling for compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform and a laminated copy of the 14th amendment. Freddy and Bambbi Rodriguez gave witness to their heartbreaking situation: Freddy has been ordered to be deported and he has chosen to voluntarily leave in March. The hope is that he will be able to apply for reunification. Right now, let’s all pray that the Rodriguez family will be reunited once again and soon. On February 27, the CRI Team is organizing an event to embrace the Rodriguez family in prayer. More information to follow soon. For coverage, please see:

• Post-Standard
• News 10

By Lyndra Vassar
February 02, 2010, 3:00PM
Syracuse Post Standard

A community activist group called on U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer to give immigrant families equal rights and protection under the federal laws.

(Protesters today hold a vigil calling for immigration reform outside the federal building in Syracuse. It was organized by the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse. David Lassman / The Post-Standard)

The Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (ACTS) held a prayer vigil on at noon Monday . Huddled in the courtyard of the James M. Hanley Federal Building, people raised signs, sang songs and shared testimonies that carried the same message: every person deserves equal rights . Continue Reading »

Over the past two years, there has been a dramatic increase in the presence and activity of federal agents of the Department of Homeland Security in Central New York-raiding workplaces and detaining people while they shop, pick up their kids, go to church, and do laundry.

As a result, many in our community have: visited immigrants detained in our local county jail and at the federal detainment center in Batavia, New York; helped raise and post bail for detained individuals; helped them connect with loved ones; sought legal counsel on their immigration court cases; traveled with them to immigration court in Buffalo; and offered spiritual and material support to families as they face fears and hardships. Many have worked to educate our community about the complex issue of immigration as well as to preserve the rights of all workers. We have stood in witness at the CNY Regional Transportation Center to call for an end to racial, ethnic, and religious profiling of people seeking to travel. Continue Reading »