In New Paltz, people being detained by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sometimes doesn’t go unnoticed. Hundreds of people have written letters in support of Luis Martinez, or shown up to events in his support. Friends of Matthew Rojas rallied to hire an attorney to represent him. Thousands of dollars were raised for Joel Guerrero, the first resident known to have been detained regarding his status as a resident of the United States. 

Word came Saturday that New Paltz resident Luis Martinez had been put on a deportation list days earlier, and that more public action might be all that stands between him and a plane trip to Mexico. Message received: roughly 150 friends and neighbors showed up yesterday afternoon at the Orange County Correctional Facility to make their voices heard.

An update on two pending immigration cases.

New Paltz resident Matthew Rojas was picked up outside of the New Paltz Justice Court last week by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The incident has given a face to the ongoing debate about immigration reform, as friends raise money for Rojas’ defense and local officials consider how best to respond to tactics which have been characterized as both a challenge to the town’s sanctuary law and disrespect for the local justice system.