Latest news with #CatalinaCruz
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Like dogs': Video appears to show migrants held in federal building in NYC
New video obtained by ABC News purports to show the conditions inside a so-called "holding facility" for detained migrants in a federal building in New York City. The videos were shared by a detainee with a local civic group, who then provided them to New York State Assembly member Catalina Cruz. The New York Immigration Coalition shared that video widely in a press release on Tuesday. Assemblywoman Cruz told ABC News the man who shared the video, a constituent of hers, was recently detained at an immigration hearing in New York City and was being held at the facility on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan's Foley Square. The videos have been blurred, and the voice of the man filming has been edited by the civic group to protect the man's identity. The video appears to show over a dozen people inside a room, with several of them lying on the floor on thermal blankets and sitting on benches. The person who filmed the video also showed two toilets that are separated from the rest of the men by only a waist-high wall. "Look how they have us, the situation that we're in... like dogs in here," the man filming the video says in Spanish at one point. "The American dream. Immigration, 26 Federal Plaza," the man filming the video adds. MORE: 10 arrested after ambush on Texas ICE detention facility, officials say In a press release, the New York Immigration Coalition said the videos appear to show that the facility is being used as a detention center rather than merely a holding center, and should, as such, be subject to oversight by Congress. Last month, Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman said they attempted to gain access to the area inside the federal building where migrants were being allegedly detained, but were denied access by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "The question is, why can't we go in? What are they hiding?" Goldman asked reporters at the time. "This is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that they denied our access, and we will be continuing to push for access with the executives at the Department of Homeland Security, because they are violating the law." But DHS has continued to claim migrants are only being "briefly processed" there before being transferred elsewhere. "26 Federal Plaza is not a detention center. It is a processing center where illegal aliens are briefly processed to be transferred to an ICE detention facility," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement in response to the videos released Tuesday. "Any claim that there is overcrowding or subprime conditions at ICE facilities are categorically false. All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. As we arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens and public safety threats from the U.S., ICE has worked diligently to obtain greater necessary detention space while avoiding overcrowding. Secretary Noem has called on states and local governments to help with bed and detention space capacity. Despite a historic number of injunctions, DHS is working rapidly overtime to remove these aliens from detention centers to their final destination—home," she added. Immigrant advocates have warned that people held at the facility are being provided minimal food and are being placed in unsanitary conditions. MORE: 4 detainees escape from New Jersey ICE facility: Officials Assemblywoman Cruz said she found the videos to be "extremely angering" and said she's not surprised that DHS has previously prevented lawmakers from touring the area. "I mean, it's by design, it's on purpose, they don't want people to see exactly what they're doing, which is violating people's human rights, making sure that people feel desperate, isolated, alone, scared. This is exactly what they want to do, and they're succeeding at it," she told ABC News. "We need to fight back to make sure that folks are treated with dignity, that folks have their day in court, that folks have access to the bare minimum, which is food, medication, a bed, a bathroom," Cruz said.
23-07-2025
- Politics
'Like dogs': Video appears to show migrants held in federal building in NYC
New video obtained by ABC News purports to show the conditions inside a so-called "holding facility" for detained migrants in a federal building in New York City. The videos were shared by a detainee with a local civic group, who then provided them to New York State Assembly member Catalina Cruz. The New York Immigration Coalition shared that video widely in a press release on Tuesday. Assemblywoman Cruz told ABC News the man who shared the video, a constituent of hers, was recently detained at an immigration hearing in New York City and was being held at the facility on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan's Foley Square. The videos have been blurred, and the voice of the man filming has been edited by the civic group to protect the man's identity. The video appears to show over a dozen people inside a room, with several of them lying on the floor on thermal blankets and sitting on benches. The person who filmed the video also showed two toilets that are separated from the rest of the men by only a waist-high wall. "Look how they have us, the situation that we're in... like dogs in here," the man filming the video says in Spanish at one point. "The American dream. Immigration, 26 Federal Plaza," the man filming the video adds. In a press release, the New York Immigration Coalition said the videos appear to show that the facility is being used as a detention center rather than merely a holding center, and should, as such, be subject to oversight by Congress. Last month, Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman said they attempted to gain access to the area inside the federal building where migrants were being allegedly detained, but were denied access by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "The question is, why can't we go in? What are they hiding?" Goldman asked reporters at the time. "This is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that they denied our access, and we will be continuing to push for access with the executives at the Department of Homeland Security, because they are violating the law." But DHS has continued to claim migrants are only being "briefly processed" there before being transferred elsewhere. "26 Federal Plaza is not a detention center. It is a processing center where illegal aliens are briefly processed to be transferred to an ICE detention facility," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement in response to the videos released Tuesday. "Any claim that there is overcrowding or subprime conditions at ICE facilities are categorically false. All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. As we arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens and public safety threats from the U.S., ICE has worked diligently to obtain greater necessary detention space while avoiding overcrowding. Secretary Noem has called on states and local governments to help with bed and detention space capacity. Despite a historic number of injunctions, DHS is working rapidly overtime to remove these aliens from detention centers to their final destination—home," she added. Immigrant advocates have warned that people held at the facility are being provided minimal food and are being placed in unsanitary conditions. Assemblywoman Cruz said she found the videos to be "extremely angering" and said she's not surprised that DHS has previously prevented lawmakers from touring the area. "I mean, it's by design, it's on purpose, they don't want people to see exactly what they're doing, which is violating people's human rights, making sure that people feel desperate, isolated, alone, scared. This is exactly what they want to do, and they're succeeding at it," she told ABC News.
Finextra
05-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
NY legislature passes Statewide cash law
A bill banning retailers from refusing to accept cash payments has passed both houses of the New York State Legislature. 0 The legislation, sponsored by Senator James Sanders Jr and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, prohibits food stores and retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash. The sponsors say the move ensures that all New Yorkers — especially low-income, elderly, and unbanked people — can access essential goods and services in an era increasingly dominated by digital payments. The measure now awaits Governor Hochul's signature. Says Senator Sanders: 'Cash is still king for many New Yorkers who live paycheck to paycheck or who simply don't have access to credit or banking services. 'No one should be denied a sandwich, a bottle of water, or a loaf of bread because they don't have a debit card. This bill is about fairness and basic dignity.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Queens Pride Parade highlights LGBTQ+ rights and unity
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) — The beginning of Pride Month kicked off with the 33rd annual Queens Pride Parade, the second-oldest pride parade in the city. This year's celebration also included direct messages to the Trump administration. More Local News 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, was filled with colors, music, and Pride Sunday afternoon. 'Love everyone, love everybody,' shouted one of the attendees. A message of love along with this year's theme, defiant Joy and Unity. 'It is probably the most important pride of our lifetime because of the hate and attacks and trying to erase our community,' said David Kilmnick, President of the LGBT Network. Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz and Jessica González-Rojas were two of the three Grand Marshals for this year's Queens Pride Parade. The third one was Andry José Hernández Romero, who is now detained in the maximum-security Prison, CECOT, in El Salvador after being deported by the Trump Administration in March. Romero is a gay man who was seeking asylum in the United States after fleeing Venezuela in May of last year due to alleged threats because of his sexual orientation. He was deported because the government claims his tattoos link him to the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. 'Andry represents everything that is Queens. He is queer, he is an artist, and he is an immigrant. That is who we are,' said Rojas. 'This is not normal. We can't normalize the disappearance of people under a constitution that is supposed to protect us all, no matter who the president is,' added Cruz. The first Queens Pride Parade was held on June 6, 1993. Decades later, attendees are saying that today is more important than ever to show up because of the current political climate under the Trump administration. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State 'I really wish they would rethink a lot of these positions; people of the LGBTQ community just want to be able to live and love and have the life that everybody else wants.' Said Aubrey Nelson. 'Syddiq and his wife, Sabar, brought their son, Syris. They say they want him to learn about equality from a very young age. 'You just have to accept everyone, hatred is straight up for losers,' said Syddiq With thousands of spectators, over 140 diverse groups marched down from 89th to 75th Street, promoting the visibility and accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community and fostering acceptance. 'Transgender people are human, transgender people are right, transgender people are not invisible,' SOT Yanitza Lara. Others are also sending a message to younger generations. 'Come out, don't be afraid, be yourselves! Stand up for yourself no matter what!' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
