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Hundreds of New York City residents gathered in Union Square on Monday to protest against the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in their communities. The protestors called for the passage of the "New York For All Act," which aims to limit cooperation between state and local agencies and federal immigration enforcement.
The protest coincided with the sixth night of Passover, and many participants highlighted the themes of freedom and liberation. Sophie Ellman-Golan of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice remarked, "We can’t really celebrate a holiday of liberation when so many of our neighbors are in captivity."
Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the protest, along with other elected officials. He emphasized the importance of the protest's message during Passover, stating, "Celebrating Passover together is also an opportunity for New Yorkers at large to celebrate the lesson that Passover leaves all of us across these five boroughs."
Protesters later staged a sit-in at the offices of Palantir, a firm with contracts with immigration enforcement, resulting in several arrests. The "New York For All Act" has been stalled in Albany for years, but local lawmakers are working to incorporate parts of it into New York City law.
New York City has had sanctuary policies in place since 1989, limiting local police cooperation with ICE. However, recent federal actions have prompted city officials to reevaluate their strategies to protect the city's undocumented residents. Mayor Mamdani has ordered audits to ensure compliance with sanctuary laws and is working on strengthening protections against federal overreach.
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