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Two activist groups to accompany Queens resident to ICE offices Thursday, in jeopardy of being deported

Oct. 17, 2017 By Tara Law

Community members will mobilize Thursday to accompany a Queens man to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services office as he checks in with ICE as part of his deferred deportation order.

The event is being organized by the Jackson Heights Immigrant Solidarity Network and the New Sanctuary Coalition who say Queens resident Riaz Talukder is in jeopardy of being deported.

Talukder moved to the United States from Bangladesh in 1981 at the age of 13. He lives with his family in the Jamaica, Queens and has two American-born sons who are 11- and 15-years old respectively.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Jacob K. Davits Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, where US Citizenship and Immigration Services is located.

The action comes a week after Sunnyside resident Bablu Sharif and 10 other Queens Bangladeshis were deported.

Sharif gained media attention after his teenage daughters led a press conference calling on President Donald Trump to allow their father to stay in the country. Sharif had lived in the U.S. for 25 years and has two American-born children.

Like Sharif, Talukder does not have a criminal record, according to the Jackson Heights Immigration Solidarity Network. He is currently in the country and working legally since he was granted a deferred deportation order after he was detained in 2010.

Along with other nonprofits, the Jackson Heights Immigration Solidarity Network is also hosting an immigrant rights discussion on organizing for solidarity and resistance.

The event will take place on Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Heights. The church is located 3350 82nd St.

The event will feature speakers from social services organization Chhaya CDC, International Socialist Organization, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Make the Road New York, Parents Association of PS 69, Queens Detainee Empowerment Project, Queens Neighborhoods United, Socialist Alternative, United Federation of Teachers–IS 145 Chapter, and UnLocal.