Immigration forum addresses climate of fear

Hispanics in the Five Towns report feeling increasing anxiety

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With anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise across the country, a climate of fear has gripped the Five Towns Hispanic community. To relieve anxiety, the Five Towns Hispanic Association held a forum at the Five Towns Community Center on March 13 to address questions about immigration, school security and mental health.

Among the speakers were Gary Mandel, a Far Rockaway attorney; Yanina Velásquez, an immigration specialist; Dr. Jaime Cárcamo, a psychologist; and Lori Skonberg, president of the Lawrence Teachers Association.

“Undocumented immigrants in our community are vulnerable and are often taken advantage of and exploited,” said Cárcamo, whose psychology practice is based in Woodside. He said he works with patients from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanic people, adding that forums such as this one are important because they provide people with accurate information.

Because of the current political climate, Cárcamo said, many patients are experiencing heightened anxiety and symptoms of depression such as insomnia, poor concentration, excessive worry and loss of interest in usual activities. “Many of them avoid going out for fear of getting deported,” he said.

Saul Cisneros, a Five Towns Hispanic Association member, said he encourages Spanish-speaking parents to learn English and follow up with their children to make sure they are doing their homework. The group usually meets on the first Monday of the month in the community center.

According to the State Education Department, 52 percent of students enrolled in the Lawrence School District in the 2015-16 school year were Hispanic or Latino. “A lot of people are afraid …,” said Cisneros, who emigrated from El Salvador to the U.S. in 1995.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines a Hispanic or Latino person as someone of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish descent or origin, regardless of race.

Immigrants “are being increasingly victimized in the current climate, and they are afraid to come forward, which is a very dangerous combination,” said Silvia Pastor Finkelstein, director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs at the Nassau County district attorney’s office.

She said the office would never disclose the immigration status of anyone who has witnessed or been a victim of a crime, and noted that the D.A.’s office is “absolutely committed” to protecting Nassau residents, regardless of their immigration status.

“Rumors could be very dangerous,” Jose Serrano, an association member, said. “I just hope that people feel more at ease knowing that they have rights.” He moved to Inwood from El Salvador in 1986 with his parents and now lives in Lawrence with his family.

“No one’s rights should be infringed upon,” Inwood native Natasha Shepard said. Her 7-year-old son, Corey, is a second-grader at Lawrence Primary School at the Number Two School in Inwood. She said that he talks to her about seeing other children cry in school because of changing attitudes toward immigrants. Shepard added that she attended the forum to find out how she could support the diverse community she lives in.

On March 6, President Trump issued an updated travel ban, which was supposed to take effect March 16, but two federal judges, one from Hawaii and one from Maryland, issued temporary injunctions against it. Among the countries listed in the executive order are Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Under the new ban, current visa holders are not affected; Iraq has been removed from the list of banned countries; and Syrian refugees are barred from entering the U.S. temporarily instead of indefinitely.

Green card holders from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen will still be allowed in the country. The ban does not apply to U.S. citizens or anyone who has dual citizenship.

Have an opinion about immigration or the current political climate? Send your letter to the editor to jbessen@liherald.com.