Group adds 600 to aid at ICE call-ins

A New York group that accompanies immigrants to their ICE check-ins and court hearings said it has trained 600 new volunteers in the past week — in response to the Trump administration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the border.

Based in Judson Memorial Church in the West Village, the New Sanctuary Coalition sends volunteers to accompany undocumented immigrants who meet with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They act as “friends” to the immigrants at hearings, fingerprint sessions and regular check-ins at ICE’s field office in Manhattan.

“Our accompaniments for me are several-fold: They’re shining a big light on what’s happening, so all these ICE agents are held accountable, all these state attorneys are held accountable,” said Christopher James, who began volunteering with New Sanctuary soon after the 2016 presidential election. “The other big thing is to show community.”

Judges notice that “community,” said three volunteers who believe the jurists are sometimes more lenient with immigrants who have shown initiative in making connections with the group. The coalition accompanies dozens of immigrants each week to their proceedings.

“The judges, for the most part, are very much in favor of helping people with their immigration cases,” said James, 59.