Communities United for Police Reform

A NY Teen Illegally Detained by ICE is Now Home Oliver Mata Velazquez played by all the rules. The 19-year-old Buffalo resident entered the country legally to seek asylum, as is his right under the law. He has no criminal history and has followed a...

Oliver Mata Velazquez is a 19-year old asylum seeker. When he showed up for his mandatory immigration court hearing in Buffalo in June, ICE agents illegally snatched him.

The NYCLU, Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, and @rfkhumanrights.bsky.social sued. And we won his release.

Mayor Adams and NYPD expand quality of life teams across Brooklyn after successful pilot | amNewYork The NYPD’s Quality of Life Teams (Q-Teams) will be expanded to every precinct in Brooklyn.

We know that more police do not keep us safe, yet
Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Tisch continue to expand NYPD presence in our communities, which we know disproportionately harms and targets NYers in our vulnerable communities.

www.amny.com/police-fire/...

Our client Carlos Lopez Benitez is reunited with his sisters and community after being detained for two harrowing weeks in both NY & Texas!

Thanks to our legal team’s swift action & submission of a habeas petition arguing his right to due process was violated, a federal judge ordered his release. 🧵

Over the last few months, the trans community has seen an increase in policy attacks, with 950+ pieces of legislation being introduced across the country that enable trans erasure. #TransLatinxMarch

💪 In the face of attacks against our communities, we say:

🏳️‍⚧️ TRANS LIVES ARE VALUABLE!🏳️‍⚧️

NYC Immigration Arrests Just Shot Through the Roof, New Data Shows Newly obtained federal records offer the clearest picture yet of how aggressively the Trump administration has pursued its mass deportation agenda — with a sixfold increase in arrests in early June.

"ICE arrests jumped 46% this May, to 409 up from 281 last year. In the first 10 days of June, ICE agents in NYC made 495 arrests— more than 2x the 247 arrests it made in all of June last year.”

👇See how ICE's access to our immigration courts is increasing this trend.
www.thecity.nyc/2025/07/14/i...

✊ We are facing the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations. The same forces that used violence against John Lewis are back, with billionaire backers and authoritarian ambition.

Join us July 17 at 5:30pm in Foley Sq because #GoodTroubleLivesOn.

🤍 Wear white and bring flowers!

The detentions occurring inside NYC immigration courts often have no legal basis & detainees are routinely denied the right to due process or even given access to legal advice.

These out-of-control ICE arrests have no place in our city.

@cmalexaaviles.bsky.social @phara4assembly.bsky.social

Blakeman to allow Nassau police to wear face masks for 'specific investigations,' replicating ICE practice He signed the order citing protesters targeting police or ICE agents wearing masks.

It’s ironic that Nassau County Exec Bruce Blakeman — who fought relentlessly to ban people from wearing masks — is now pushing to allow police officers to wear a mask whenever they please.

So, a masked police officer could legally arrest someone…for wearing a mask. The hypocrisy is astounding.

🚨ALL OUT FOR #AllanFeliz 🚨Friday is the last chance to force @NYPDPC to #FireJonathanRivera after she made a shameful preliminary decision to reverse the guilty verdict. We have hours left to demand #FireJonathanRivera!
📢EMAIL bit.ly/email4allan
📍Rally 7/11 12pm @ 1PP

“These conditions are inhumane as individuals detained do not have access to beds, regular meals, or communication with loved ones or counsel.”

Immigrant New Yorkers deserve respect and dignity. It’s time for our NY leadership to step up & stop the abuses happening inside this building.

Under Mayor Adams, police stops have risen, NYPD misconduct claims have increased by over 50% & discipline in police brutality cases has increasingly been buried & blocked – most recently seen through Tisch's decision to not #FireJonathanRivera for killing #AllanFeliz. And now this.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch Is Just Another Cop The family of Allan Feliz thought they would get some justice, until Tisch came along.

"On Friday, Tisch disappointed anyone who bought that, going against the recommendations of both the Civilian Complaint Review Board and an NYPD judge, and declining to fire Lieutenant Jonathan Rivera, who killed Allan Feliz during a traffic stop in 2019."

hellgatenyc.com/allan-feliz-...

The graphic is of a photo of Allan Feliz. His headshot is centered and surrounded by watercolor illustrations of flowers. The background is black and the text at the bottom says Justice for Allan Feliz #FireJonathanRivera

The background is of a photo of Allan Feliz holding his child. The text in the graphic, highlighted, underlined, and circled partially in red says: Police Commissioner Tisch’s refusal to fire Lt. Jonathan Rivera for murdering Allan Feliz during an illegal traffic stop is yet another failure of a racist system that protects unchecked police power and dehumanizes its victims. With this outrageous preliminary decision, Tisch overturns the guilty verdict issued by NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner. Police violence will not end until there are real consequences for the officers who kill and for the institutions that enable them. We demand justice for Allan, and we call on the Mayor and Commissioner to fire Rivera. Samah Sisay, Staff Attorney

Our response to @NYPDPC Tisch's decision to flip the guilty verdict for Lt. Rivera after the NYPD's judge and Deputy Commissioner said to fire him for his role in the murder of #AllanFeliz. #FireJonathanRivera!

If you couldn't attend the rally, you can STILL support #AllanFeliz and the Feliz Family through the end of the week by emailing @nypdpc.bsky.social & Mayor Adams and calling on them to reverse Tisch's cowardly decision and #FireJonathanRivera!

Email NOW: bit.ly/email4allan

Long-delayed assistant school safety agent job posting is ‘unlawful’: NY Civil Liberties Union After nearly two years of setbacks, Mayor Adams’ push to hire hundreds of junior school safety agents could hit a legal snag, a civil liberties group has warned.

🚨A new job touted by the Adams admin violates state law: It would assign school safety agents - high school grads under the age of 21 stationed in elementary schools - the responsibility of enforcing school rules.

NYC should not be expanding police-like surveillance to little kids in the classroom.

🚨EMERGENCY ACTION🚨On 7/3 @NYPDPC released a *preliminary* decision to FLIP the guilty verdict for Lt. Rivera - after her own Deputy Commish said FIRE HIM. This cowardly, out-of-process move betrays #AllanFeliz’s family & all NYers. Rally: TODAY, 5p, 1PP #FireJonathanRivera

⚖️On Friday, June 27th, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the birthright case. There’s already a lot of misinformation circulating about what this means.

Check out our infographics to learn what the Supreme Court DID & did NOT say so you can keep your family, friends & neighbors informed!

What is Copaganda, and How do We Fight It? - NYCLU

Whether we know it or not, we're all swimming in a sea of what author Alec Karakatsanis calls Copaganda: How the media decides what to cover, who to quote, and what language to use.

On this ep of Rights This Way, @equalityalec.bsky.social breaks down what Copaganda is and what we can do about it:

How Two Rogue CCRB Members Made a Police Misconduct Complaint Disappear "I feel like the CCRB is covering police officers' tracks and making sure that they don't get in trouble, or they just receive slaps on the wrist."

New Yorkers deserve a Civilian Complaint Review Board that is committed to protecting them - not the abusive officers they're supposed to be investigating and holding accountable.

👀 Have you seen ICE in your neighborhood & weren’t sure who to alert? Save this post so you’re prepared for next time.

As immigrant New Yorkers continue being targeted by a cruel deportation agenda, it’s up to us to defend our communities. 🧵

Immigration attorney blocked from visiting ICE detainees at MDC Brooklyn Guards at MDC Brooklyn federal jail, known for its horrific conditions and widespread violence, barred an immigration attorney from visiting ICE detainees, telling her they do not have a procedure …

“The idea that in BK there’s this jail into which possibly 100 people have vanished & have no access to counsel & can't be contacted, is incongruous + deeply disturbing," says Paige Austin from our legal team.

The shocking reason attorneys are being turned away.⬇️
www.nydailynews.com/2025/06/27/i...

🚨 Breaking: SCOTUS refused to rule on eliminating birthright citizenship — and instead limited nationwide injunctions, making it harder to stop harmful executive orders. This weakens protections for all. Read our full statement: https://visit.latinojustice.org/citizenship

Let’s be clear: Trump’s unconstitutional + cruel EO decimating birthright citizenship is still blocked in NY + remains blocked nationwide for at least 30 days. The fight in lower courts goes on.

We will use every tool to prevent any child from being denied citizenship under this illegal policy.

Democrats Want To Ban Masked ICE Agents The bill, according to one sponsor, is meant to stop “tyranny” from spreading in America.

“They blatantly disregard people’s rights & take them from their jobs, homes and streets, all while masked & unidentified.” says Natalia Aristizabal, our deputy director.

See how the “No Secret Police Act” will protect out communities.
www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...

“ICE must identify themselves and the agencies they work for. This bill would be a step toward reining in their out-of-control and rogue behavior,” said Natalia Aristizabal, our Deputy Director.

We urge Congress to support the “No Secret Police Act” & rein in these out-of-control tactics by ICE!

Today, outside 26 Federal Plaza, we joined Congress members @velazquez.house.gov + @nadler.house.gov, @thenyic.bsky.social, @legalaidnyc.bsky.social, and allies to spotlight the No Masks for ICE Act to call for immediate federal action to end secretive, unaccountable immigration enforcement.

✊ We’re in front of 1 Police Plaza with #WinRozario’s family today to demand updates on the NYPD investigation and to call for Officers Cianfrocco & Alongi to be fired, indicted and prosecuted without delay‼️

Op-Ed | New York must strengthen shield laws to defend abortion and trans care | amNewYork Even before the Supreme Court ruling, many states were weighing bills to criminalize people who receive abortions, as well as the people who support them –

In recent years, NY lawmakers passed “shield laws” to make it harder for other states or the federal gov't to punish those who seek or provide abortion or gender-affirming care.

But there are still gaps in those defenses. The Gov. has a bill on her desk to close those gaps. She must sign it ASAP.

Our friend Peppermint has a #PrideMonth message:

Resistance is nonnegotiable. Giving in is not an option 💪 🏳️‍⚧️

EXCLUSIVE | Goldman and Espaillat lead House Democrats on proposed law to unmask ICE agents during immigration arrests | amNewYork A bill to unmask federal immigration agents while making arrests is set to be introduced in the House of Representatives.

“ICE must answer to the people & must identify themselves + the agencies they work for. This bill would be a step toward reining in their out-of-control behavior,” said our Deputy Director, Natalia Aristizabal.

See the latest legal move to protect our communities.👇
www.amny.com/immigration/...