Dozens of Long Islanders showed up at the Suffolk Legislature to support recently arrived Central American children.
sexy teens innocentA coalition of more than 30 Long Island immigrants, advocates and faith leaders held a press conference and rally to ask the Suffolk County legislature to promise to compassionately support and welcome the newly arrived children from Central America seeking safety in the U.S. They asked the legislators to support the work of members of the coalition in their efforts to help the children transition to life here. They also asked that legislators act as advocates for the children.
The event coincided with a county legislative meeting at the Evans K. Griffing Building in Riverhead. Addressing legislators during the public portion, members of the coalition reiterated their call for compassion and offered to work with legislators in providing guidance and information where possible.
“The children are young, scared, and need a trusted adult looking out for their interests, whether as a interpreter, legal advocate or care provider,” said Maryann Sinclair Slutsky, Executive Director of Long Island Wins. “Advocates and volunteers across Long Island are already stepping up to provide this help. We ask that Suffolk County legislators do their part to support these efforts, as well as those of faith communities who are leading the call to help these children, and commit to treating the children with compassion and dignity.”
“It’s not an easy trek to come here,” said Legislator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood). “And it’s unfortunate that now they are faced with a government that unfortunately is not accepting them. It’s not their fault. These are young children. All they want is a better life.”
“I have helped over 100 of these refugee children who have been placed with relatives,” said Sister Margaret Smyth, Director of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate. “When they tell me their stories, even the teenagers snuggle up to me for comfort. They are children. Let’s not forget this.”
“This is a serious situation,” said Rev. Charles Coverdale, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Riverhead. “What I’d like to petition our county legislature to do is not only individually become advocates themselves in the various districts they represent, but as a body speak to and address this situation and the overall state of Long Island.”
“These children don’t come here for economic reasons. They come here because they are fleeing violence and harm in their homelands,” said Father Larry Duncklee of St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead. “We should adopt the best standards of legal proceedings for the children. They should be awarded good counsel for all of their proceedings.”
Immigrant Action analyst was among those who spoke out for the children.
“We are a compassionate nation and a compassionate community and we know that we can provide these children with a decent life,” said Sylvia Baruch, founder of Neighbors in Support of Immigrants. “We hope that these children will get a fair hearing and good representation and that the school system will provide these children with an education that is meaningful and suitable for their background.”
“The refugee children that are settling on Long Island are an incredibly vulnerable population,” said Jackie Saavedra, Staff Attorney with the Empire Justice Center. “We are here today to call on Suffolk County legislators to take steps to support the children to make sure they are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve.”
“We ask that Suffolk legislators become advocates for the children because these are the children of your constituents,” said Patrick Young, Program Director for the Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN). “We also ask that you speak out against the hatred that exists in your communities.”
“Lashing out against these children violates our integrity as a nation and as people of faith,” added Slutsky. “The solution does not lie in punishing the children but ensuring they receive the proper screening, protection and legal counsel that our laws demand.”
