Van of Mixteca testifies on communicating EO 13 protections
Van of Mixteca says most agencies complied with EO 13 but some protocols were not followed. Van calls for a communication plan to inform immigrant New Yorkers through community-based organizations and for quarterly updates and audits.
Good afternoon, Council Members.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
My name is Van.
I'm the community organizer at Mixteca, a community-based organization in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, that has served immigrant, Latin, and indigenous communities for over 25 years.
After reviewing the Executive Order 13 audit recommendations, it was great to see that the majority of the city agencies were able to comply with and enforce the changes that the mayor implemented.
But as the report also showed, there were a few instances in which these new Executive Order 13 protocols were not followed.
The proposed recommendations call for strengthening documentation, reporting, and transparency, which I agree with, but it is unclear how this information will be shared with immigrant New Yorkers.
A plan to inform immigrant New Yorkers about the new policies and procedures should be developed, particularly targeting community-based organizations where many people in our community obtain their information and updates.
With the recent changes to public charge policies and ongoing threats facing our community, it is essential to ensure that there is consistent communication and regular updates for immigrant New Yorkers.
The recommendation suggests that city agencies should endure quarterly audits, which should be followed by proposals to enhance protections for our immigrant community.
Additionally, there should be quarterly plans to share updates, findings, and changes to policies and procedures with all New Yorkers.
At Mixed Deck Up, we provide continuous Know Your Rights workshops and resources to our community members.
During these presentations, we do our best to inform our community members and keep them updated on policy changes that may affect them.
Some of the presentation materials we provide are the IRW presentations from the Mayor's Office of Immigration Affairs.
It would be incredibly helpful if MOYA's IRW presentations could include updates on how EO-13 is strengthening protections for immigrant New Yorkers.
I would like to thank the committee for the continued work supporting our immigrant New Yorkers, and I hope you are able to develop a communication plan.
Thank you.