1. Join The People’s Agenda Summit. Come together with grassroots organizers from across NYC for a one-day gathering to listen, learn, and strategize for collective liberation. Our shared light burns brightest when we bring our visions together.
Register here: Riverside Church The People’s Agenda Summit – Riverside Church
Use your voice for those detained. Speak up for Ali and Rafa who are held in ICE detention. Write letters, make calls, and advocate for their release. Every act of solidarity pushes back the darkness and proclaims that no one is forgotten.
The Episcopal Diocese of New York, Human Rights First, and Bard College are calling for the immediate release of Ali Faqirzada, a 31-year-old Afghan student who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after appearing for a scheduled interview at the New York Asylum Office.
Ali arrived in the United States with his family more than three and a half years ago after fleeing persecution in Afghanistan due to their women and human rights activism, as well as work for the former government of Afghanistan. His asylum application has been pending since 2022. On October 14, Ali attended a fear screening interview — which he passed. Immediately afterward, ICE agents detained him.
All of Ali’s family members, who fled Afghanistan with him, have been granted asylum. His detention has caused significant emotional and financial strain on his family, who have spent years rebuilding their lives in the Hudson Valley of New York. Ali’s case underscores growing concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers in the United States and the use of detention against individuals who pose no threat and have deep ties to their communities.
Community members and supporters are calling on the Department of Homeland Security and the Newark ICE Field Office to immediately release Ali Faqirzada so he can return home to his family, continue his education, and pursue his asylum claim from within the community.
Rafa – Sign up to be a part of his support team through New Sanctuary Coalition.
Rafa, a longtime member of the New Sanctuary Coalition, is facing imminent deportation. Despite fully complying with ICE’s conditions, he was detained 23 days ago and remains in a New Jersey detention center—at risk of removal at any moment.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Rafa has built a life in the U.S. since arriving in 1997. He and his wife, Elizabeth, created a family trucking business, providing mentorship and career opportunities, and recently opened a Dominican restaurant in the Bronx—a vital hub for their community. They are active members of Our Lady of Angels Church.
In 2012, Rafa was coerced into a plea deal that led to his deportation. In 2022, he was allowed to return and reunited with his family. Now, he is facing deportation once again, despite fulfilling all ICE requirements. If sent back to the Dominican Republic, he faces immediate and credible death threats.
We must act now to keep Rafa with his family and community. Every voice counts.
Join Hands off NYC Kickoff Call: American cities are under attack as the Trump administration diverts taxpayer funds from schools and hospitals to deploy National Guard troops and ICE agents—tearing families apart and targeting working people. New York City has been directly threatened, and we are rising to respond. Join unions, faith leaders, and community groups on Wednesday, October 29 at 7 PM for a citywide call to resist, protect our neighborhoods, and strengthen the growing movement for justice and safety.
Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/nycindivisible/event/861480/
When the world grows weary, our light need not fade. The Spirit’s fire still burns in us, in every prayer, protest, and act of care. And as our siblings light their diyas for Diwali, may we too lift our lights high, trusting that love will overcome the night.