On Feb. 10, the non-profit organization Make the Road convened at the Million Dollar Staircase to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to pass the New York for All Act. If passed, the act would protect immigrant communities from raids and scare tactics conducted by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  Make the Road New York vows to achieve “justice and dignity by building the power of immigrant and working-class communities.” The group is predominantly comprised of individuals from Hispanic and Latino backgrounds looking to tackle the discrimination, abuse and poverty that many in immigrant communities experience.  

Members of Make the Road chanted, among other phrases, “Tax the rich!” and “End deportations!” Signs that read, “¡ICE fuera de NY!” or “ICE out of NY!” and “Pass New York for All, end ICE collaborations” were held by numerous members throughout the rally. Two giant banners were held by organizers at the top of the staircase, with both banners either displaying an immigrant man or woman, their respective stories, and the sentence, “Pass the New York for All Act” on the bottom. Several organizers provided testimonies throughout the rally, with some being assisted by an English-speaking translator for clarity. 

As of writing this story, Governor Hochul has yet to offer complete support for the New York for All Act; however, on Jan. 30, the governor proposed outlawing 287(g) agreements, which would prohibit local law enforcement from working with ICE agents.  

“It’s a good first step,” Make the Road’s Director of Campaign Jennifer Hernandez said prior to the rally. “But we need certainty. We still need [New York for All Act] passed to avoid collaboration between police and ICE.”  

The potential passage of the act comes at a crucial moment. Just last month, the deaths of Minnesotans Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents sent shockwaves across the country. Such actions have contributed to more Americans opposing ICE’s conduct: Earlier this month, a poll done by Marist University showed that nearly two-thirds of the US population (65%) believes that ICE’s actions have “gone too far.”  

Several state politicians also have condemned the enforcement agency. On Feb. 6, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order on sanctuary laws in the city and, in a Jan. 24 post on Instagram, called for the abolishment of ICE. Senator Julia Salazar, who spoke in solidarity with Make the Road on Feb. 10, also supported Governor Hochul’s three legislative proposals that would combat ICE’s state-wide actions.  

State Senator Shelley Mayer, who recently proposed a bill that would prohibit ICE from accessing K-12 schools, also spoke in support at the non-profit’s rally. “We need New York for All now,” Mayer said. “We need immigration reform that protects our neighbors.” 

The rally concluded with the group walking in unison down the Million Dollar Staircase and to the floor of the Capitol, chanting the same phrases as they did in the beginning of the demonstration.