Senator Gianaris Calls for Abolishing ICE As He Welcomes Yeni Gonzalez to New York to Be Reunited With Her Children

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. – Senator Michael Gianaris today called for the abolition of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) at a rally welcoming Yeni Gonzalez to New York. Gonzalez is a Guatemalan detained at the border in Arizona and separated from her children, who were sent to New York in the care of the Cayuga Center. Senator Gianaris made his call for federal action as Gonzalez arrived in New York.

“ICE is a rogue agency under the direction of a rogue President and both must be stopped before more havoc is wreaked on people seeking a better life in our country,” said Senator Michael Gianaris. “We must abolish ICE and then abolish Donald Trump at the ballot box as soon as possible.”  

Senator Gianaris was the first person to welcome Gonzalez to Queens as her convoy stopped to greet the assembled rally. Gonzalez was detained in Arizona for five weeks while her children were taken from her under the Department of Homeland Security’s “Zero Tolerance” family separation policy. Her children have been in the care of the Cayuga Center in East Harlem. They will be reunited tomorrow morning.

Gonzalez was released from detention on bond raised on a GoFundMe page organized by volunteers, led by Julie Collazo. Volunteers drove Gonzalez across the country.

Photos of the tonight’s event in Long Island City are available here: https://bit.ly/2KH91u0.

Video of the Senator’s comments on abolishing ICE can be found here: https://bit.ly/2MG7LrO.