Students investigate how federal immigration policies, like ICE raids and deportation practices, affect immigrant communities in NYC.

Students

Students interview New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

President Trump’s current administration has taken unprecedented steps to escalate deportations and immigration arrests since the start of his term, leading to an acceleration of immigration arrests in New York City, which <a href="https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/07/14/ice-migrant-arrests-trump-administration-deportations-data/">rose by 46% this May</a>. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have continued to target immigrants in their workplaces, inside courthouses, on the street, and in their homes. 
In the summer of 2025, Teaching Artist Katie Loos and Opportunity Network students investigated how federal immigration policies, like ICE raids and deportation practices, affect immigrant communities in NYC. To explore this question, students talked to community members, interviewed stakeholders working on the issue, and studied printmaking and quilting. 
They gathered what they learned to create projects that explore what legal protections exist for immigrants, how to further protect the rights of immigrants in NYC, and what social services immigrant communities have access to.

<h4>United for Immigrant Rights</h4>
Slideshow by Abdoulaye Diallo<a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/pdfs/OppNet_2025_Invisible-Wounds.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Click here to download</a> 
<h4>Not just an “American” right</h4>
Brochure by Alexia (Angie) Quispe Flores<a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/pdfs/OppNet_2025_Not-just-an-American-right.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Click here to download</a> 
<h4>Breaking the ICE</h4>
Brochure by Arleene Lema, Lizmar Llano, and Rachel De Los Santos <a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/pdfs/OppNet_2025_Breaking-the-ICE_EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click here to download in English </a><a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/pdfs/OppNet_2025_Breaking-the-ICE_SP.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haz clic aquí para descargar en Español</a> 
<h4>Desde Quisqueya Hasta Aquí</h4>
Multimedia 3D map by Brianna Disla<a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/pdfs/OppNet_2025_Desde-Quisqueya-Hasta-Aqui%CC%81.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Click here to download</a> 
<h4>Cryophobia: Fear of ICE</h4>
Hand-made zine by Elisha Davila and Jacob Valentin<a href="https://welcometocup.org/assets/pdfs/OppNet_2025_Cryophobia.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Click here to download</a> 
<h4>Inform My Community</h4>
Instagram account by Melanie Castillo-Cruz<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inform_my_community?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Click here to browse </a> 
<h4>Know Your Rights </h4>
Illustrations and animation by Emily Herrera Cordova<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1n8YAr-ZnFv31PPOs2l_AQGgYLLXU12jA?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Click here to view</a>

CUP
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/hugo-rojas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hugo Rojas</a><a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/ana-beirne-meyer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Ana Beirne-Meyer</a>

The Opportunity Network
Director of Internships &amp; Career Success: Amanda Smith Manager of Internships &amp; Career Success: Ashley Falzone Opportunity Network Intern: Dayanara Morales

Teaching Artist
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/katie-loos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Katie Loos</a>

Project Collaborators

<h4>Students</h4>
Abdoulaye Diallo
Aisha Flores
Alexia Quispe Flores
Arleene Lema
Brianna Disla
Elisha Davila
Emily Herrera Cordova
Jacob Valentin
Lizmar Llano
Mackenzie Pettiford
Melanie Castillo-Cruz
Rachel De Los Santos 
<h4>Special Thanks</h4>
Karina Albistegui Adler, Co-Director of Health Justice at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Sophie Dalsimer, Co-Director of Health Justice at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Lucia Cuenca, Immigration Staff Attorney at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Nevien Swailmyeen, Health Justice Advocate at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Luba Cortés, Immigration Lead Coordinator at Make the Road NY
Marvin Espana, Supervising Attorney at The Bronx Defenders<h4>Fundraising Support</h4>
Major support for this program was provided by The Opportunity Network.

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Hyperakt is a purpose-driven design and innovation studio that elevates human dignity and ignites curiosity. Since 2001, co-founders Julia Zeltser and Deroy Peraza, along with the Hyperakt team, have been partnering with change-makers moving society forward. We believe in design’s power to build a future filled with courage, optimism, and honesty.

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