LEARNING MORE
Residents in Saratoga Springs learn about immigration
The thunderstorms and a brief power outage didn’t stop residents from participating in a town hall at Skidmore College on Monday centered around immigration.
“I think it was great. I think it was a great turnout despite the weather conditions, despite the traffic on the Northway; I think we made a great impact today,” Bryon Cortez, one of the panel speakers, said. “It was great input, great feedback and questions; that was great to hear.”
Joining Cortez on the panel were David Meyers, Ingrid Bermudez, Samantha Barnhart and Patrick Pipino.
Mayor Joanne Yepsen created a human rights task force in April. The human rights task force hosted its first town hall in May centered around the creation of the task force.
This town hall included a presentation by Barnhart called “Understanding the Immigration System.”
Barnhart explained how much it costs to apply for legal citizenship. For people between the ages of 14 and 78, it costs more than $1,200 — and there’s no guarantee the applicant will be granted citizenship.
People also can spend a long time on a waiting list, since how many admissions the United States authorizes varies.
“I learned more than I spoke, for sure. The most telling statistic that people can literally die waiting 20 to 30 years for a visa was very telling to me,” said Pipino, who co-owns Ben & Jerry’s. “Plus I didn’t realize how few visas were put out for education, for workforce, etc. It was fascinating.”
Pipino represented the city’s businesses on the five-member panel and he pointed out how vital immigrant workers are to the city’s economy.
“There are not enough skilled cooks and back-ofthe-house talent in this area to fill all of the roles in all of the restaurants. Without the immigrant labor, it’s going to put tremendous pressure on restaurateurs to produce, tremendous pressure,” said Pipino. “The restaurant industry’s being assaulted by so many different things, between the increase in labor [referring to the state’s
plan to establish a $15 minimum wage], health care with Obamacare and things like that. At some point the valve is going to break, and by denying immigrant labor not only are you hurting the immigrants, but you’re really putting a hurt on restaurateurs in this county.”
Cortez, who is an immigrant himself, helps families enroll in affordable health insurance in New York state.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that in May and June, 27 people have been arrested in Saratoga Springs, some facing felony charges for re-entry after deportation.
In July, three men have been sentenced from their arrests in the city. Arturo Garcia-Lopez, 45, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served (43 days in jail) for illegally re-entering the United States, Leonel Martinez-Ramirez, 23, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served for illegally re-entering the United States and Rufino Ramirez De Jesus, 31, of Mexico, was sentenced to 46 days in jail for illegally re-entering the United States.
The arrests were cheered by some people, while others expressed a variety of concerns about the matter. People expressed concerns about why the ICE raids happened in Saratoga Springs, and also the impact it has on the city’s economy.
Residents asked various questions, including how they could help illegal immigrants who have been arrested and what to do if they are at a restaurant when it is raided by ICE agents.
“I think that it’s essential. It’s such a beautiful thing to have those doors open to the residents,” said Cortez. “Undocumented, documented they are free to come in here and be able to see the mayor, be able to see the community leaders present and ask anything that they’d like. They have the freedom. The sense of freedom is very comfortable
In July, three men have been sentenced from their arrests in the city. Arturo Garcia-Lopez, 45, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served (43 days in jail) for illegally re-entering the United States, Leonel Martinez Ramirez, 23, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served for illegally re-entering the United States and Rufino Ramirez De Jesus, 31, of Mexico, was sentenced to 46 days in jail for illegally re-entering the United States.
and welcoming, and I think it’s a great thing and I think it’s only going to get better and better.”
Cortez envisions a future when discussion turns to immigration because of an event like Monday’s town hall.
“We are very optimistic that in the near future we’re only going to see and keep seeing peaceful demonstrations. The support is already here. Mayor Yepsen is immensely supportive of the cultural and ethnical influence in this community and this city. I believe that the seed is going to be planted and is going to spread throughout the whole Capital Region. I’m very optimistic,” said Cortez. “I’m looking forward to it, being a part of it. I think that people need to engage in this beautiful act of change. We aspire to continue to welcome anyone to contribute to our community like it’s been in the past years.”