Cards from Hoboken kids to border children being held across the Hudson

These are some of the many beautiful cards that Hoboken kids made on Monday night for border children, separated from their families and shipped to New York City in the dead of night. These cards will be dropped off tomorrow for these children who are being held at Cayuga Center in Harlem.  

If you or your child would like to make a card or write a letter to these traumatized children, tomorrow City Hall will have a Drop-Off Box in the City Clerk's Office on the First Floor.

Please drop off your cards and letters to these children in the box at the City Clerk's Office. 

Imagine what these cards will mean to these scared, lonely children. Parents, ask  your child's teacher if their class can make cards or write letters. 

There's a wonderful advocacy group for detained immigrants- refugees and asylees- called  First Friends of NY and NJ.  First Friends will  arrange a visit with an immigrant in detention, or guide you on writing letters and cards to immigrants. Note, detainees who receive mail are treated better by guards than detainees who get none.

Rev. Deacon Jill Singleton gave a powerful speech at the Hoboken vigil  on Monday. Here's her advice on how we can all help refugees and asylees locally, which was shared on Facebook by Cristin Cricco-Powell. 

LEARN: Educate yourself by utilizing reputable news sources. Bookmark and visit The Detention Watch Network, a national organization focused on advocacy, strategy, and partnerships to end immigration detention: www.detentionwatchnetwork.org. You can also find out about opportunities to join advocacy efforts there.

SPEAK OUT: Hang a sign or banner welcoming refugees and asylees at your home. Counter false narratives with facts. Visit an immigrant in detention with the help of First Friends of NY and NJ https://firstfriendsnjny.org/. Write cards or letters to immigrants in detention. Detainees who receive mail are treated better by guards than detainees who do not. Join forces with other activists and people interested in making a difference. VOTE.

SHARE: Give as generously as you can to organizations supporting refugees and asylees. Here are a few local ones:

The Lighthouse: https://www.gofundme.com/thelighthouseforasylees

First Friends of NY and NJ: https://www.facebook.com/FirstFriendsNYNJ/

Church World Service:

www.cwsjerseycity.org

Invite a refugee or asylee to stay in your home, whether for an emergency overnight or for a longer term. Leverage resources and materials available to you such as access to employers, legal services, etc.