Presenter at Queensboro Hall pledges safe space for AAPI, immigrant communities amid rising ICE raids

A presenter at Queensboro Hall used a community celebration of the Year of the Horse to praise the contributions of AAPI and immigrant residents in Queens Borough and to pledge the venue as a refuge for families concerned about immigration enforcement.

The presenter began by saying, "The horse represents vitality, speed, and perseverance," and described the borough as "powered by the vitality of the people, especially our AAPI and immigrant communities whose cultures, traditions, and hard work energize Queens every single day." The remarks framed the evening as both a cultural event and a show of solidarity.

The speaker said many immigrant families have been living in fear "over the past year," asserting that ICE raids have increased and that "too many of our neighborhoods have been forced to live in uncertainty, afraid to go to work, afraid to send their children to school, afraid to seek help." The presenter offered the event as a "safe space," saying, "Queensboro Hall will always be open to our immigrant community. That we will never turn our backs on our immigrant communities."

No formal city or agency policy was announced during the remarks. Organizers presented the comments as part of a cultural program intended to reassure attendees and draw attention to the effect that immigration enforcement actions can have on neighborhood well-being. The event closed without any vote or formal action.