Congressman To Hold Immigrants' Rights Forum

HARLEM, NY — Congressman Adriano Espaillat will host an immigrants' rights forum Friday in Harlem to discuss how the policies of President Donald Trump will effect New York City's immigrant community.

Espaillat will speak at the forum and will be joined by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman as well as representatives from Latino Justice PRLDEF, the Hispanic Federation, the New York Immigration Coalition, the Legal Aid Society and the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights.

"This will be an informative discussion during which Rep. Espaillat will provide an overview of the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders on immigration, discuss the potential impact on the Hispanic community, and examine legal services and resources available to constituents of New York’s 13th Congressional District," read a flyer for the event.

The forum will be held at 5 p.m. in the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building at 163 W. 125th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues.

Since being sworn into Congress, Espaillat has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump's stances on immigration. Espaillat was especially critical of Trump's executive orders issuing a travel ban on people from seven majority-muslim countries and the building of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

"This weekend was eye opening and further proof of the horrific and devastating policies of the Trump Administration,” Espaillat said on Jan. 30. "Our actions to free detained individuals at JFK airport upon their return to the U.S., our efforts to speak out against building a divisive wall between the U.S. and Mexican border, our protest in solidarity in streets across the nation to protect civil rights and our liberties all serve as a window to the work that lies ahead if we are to ensure our American values are upheld."

Espaillat, who replaced long-time representative Charles Rangel in Congress this year, is the first Dominican-American and first former undocumented immigrant to ever be elected to the Congress. His congressional district, New York's 13th District, spans parts of Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood and the Bronx.

Photo courtesy of @EspaillatNY/Twitter