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Proactive Protection & Advocacy for Our Immigrant & New American Neighbors

  • Nicole Watts for District 9
  • Oct 30, 2025
  • 4 min read

In January 2025, right after taking office, President Trump signed several Executive Orders which resulted in increased immigration enforcement in communities nationwide. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was instructed to expand the use of “expedited removal,” allowing for quick deportation without removal hearings.


We are an incredibly diverse city, with over 70 languages spoken in the Syracuse City School District alone, and our neighbors in Onondaga County District 9 are reflective of many of these cultures and communities. The increased presence of ICE in our streets has resulted in fear, instability, and family separations among neighbors with varying immigration statuses (including many of those who fear being profiled, despite having a legal and valid immigration status). In Central New York and beyond, communities have been adversely impacted by ICE’s increased and often discriminatory enforcement. Despite the federal administration saying that they are targeting “violent and dangerous criminals,” nonviolent, well-established immigrants are increasingly being targeted. Last month, Dan Chen (owner of China House in Shop City Plaza) was detained by ICE and sent to a detention center in Louisiana. There are several others from our community who have also been detained, leaving families deeply concerned for their safety. Asylum seekers (a legal immigration status) have also been targeted, with reports of families being given ankle monitors and having their passports confiscated after a meeting at the ICE office in Syracuse. We have seen raids at large-scale employers (such as the raid at Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cato, NY), detaining individuals en-masse, without a judicial hearing or due process. The impact on our community is real.


In a community panel held on March 3 hosted by the City of Syracuse, the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) clarified that it cooperates with ICE only on criminal investigations and does not enforce federal immigration law. Similarly, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office has stated to date that they will not comply with ICE unless they receive an arrest warrant or a detainer request signed by a judge. In response to increased ICE activity in the area, the Syracuse City School District also established guidelines to protect undocumented students and to create a safe school environment. These guidelines restrict sharing students’ immigration information without parental consent and require emergency contact updates for all students. Engagement with federal agents is limited to only legally mandated circumstances. It is imperative that our schools offer children safe, supportive, and welcoming environments— regardless of immigration status.


Several weeks ago, Syracuse Common Councilor Marty Nave and I convened a roundtable discussion with a number of the stakeholders in our community from and working with our resettled refugee, immigrant, and New American neighbors. This included: InterFaith Works of CNY, Northside CYO, North Side Learning Center, SIRDN, Workers' Center of CNY, NYIC, NYS Office of New Americans, AAPI, New American Forum, Church of Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter, Syracuse City School District, Refugee Assistance Program/"Bob's School," City of Syracuse NBD - Adol Mayen, our elected Northside County Legislators Dan Romeo and Palmer Harvey, and other vested Northside neighborhood and New American community stakeholders. We are fortunate to already have so many advocates standing with our community, and now more than ever, we must strengthen our network to ensure there are no gaps in meeting the pressing need and real challenges our people are facing.


As the federal government has also threatened to withhold federal funds from communities that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, we know our city and county could be at risk. However, I believe that the efforts by the federal government to bully more localized levels of government into abiding by issues that really need to be determined at the localized level is an inappropriate leveraging of power, especially when it comes to its impact on our people. This is our taxpayer money, paid by our taxpayers that live in Onondaga County. As a county, our elected officials and public servants must continue to stand strong to ensure that our people’s needs are met and that we’re taking the responsibility that is ours to bear, and not playing into the breakdown of power and constitutional structure that was set up in our nation.


The increased presence of ICE in our community underscores the need for a coordinated response to ensure the safety of our community members. Families are being separated. Individuals who have lived, worked, and paid taxes in the United States for years are being detained and deported without due process. Our community deserves better. In these increasingly challenging times for our community, as Onondaga County Legislator for District 9, I will:

  • Continue to work closely with local organizations who serve particularly vulnerable members of our community to increase access to “Know Your Rights” and other safety/preparedness resources

  • Advocate for policies that limit cooperation with and use of local resources for ICE enforcement (unless legally required to do so)

    • To this end, I will advocate for secure data collection and sharing practices. Surveillance tools utilized by local law enforcement that could potentially be accessed by federal agencies need stronger protections should be put in place to control collection, storage, and sharing of surveillance data to reduce risks of misuse. 

  • Increase opportunities for residents to participate in “Know Your Rights” workshops (reach out to us if you're interested in attending one!)

  • Work alongside our neighbors and community organizations to monitor ICE presence in District 9


Vote Nicole Watts for Onondaga County Legislator for District 9. Early voting runs from October 25 through November 2. Election Day is November 4.


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