Noah Presley :
As federal immigration enforcement intensifies in cities across the country, faith leaders in New York City are organizing to resist. Hands Off NYC, a growing coalition of religious, labor, and community organizations, convened on January 8, 2026, at the United Federation of Teachers headquarters to coordinate their next steps in building a city-wide infrastructure of care, protest, and rapid response to ICE activity.
Launched on October 9, the initiative emerged in response to what organizers describe as a “growing threat of state violence, militarization, and civil rights violations.” At the core of its mission is ensuring that New York’s diverse communities—particularly immigrants and those most vulnerable to enforcement actions—remain safe, supported, and connected to networks of solidarity.
At the January 8 meeting, members of the Hands Off NYC Faith Table outlined expanded efforts to engage congregations in direct action and preparedness. Upcoming rapid response trainings will introduce faith communities to ICE monitoring, community patrols, and neighborhood signaling systems, with a session scheduled for January 13 at 10 AM. These trainings aim to empower houses of worship to serve as local hubs during potential escalations.
Participants also emphasized the power of consistent, visible public witness. Weekly Multifaith Monday Vigils at Columbus Circle, hosted from 5:30–6:00 PM, continue to honor the life of Renee Good, the Minneapolis mother and poet killed by ICE agents. Additional neighborhood-based Beacon Vigils, involving 5–10 congregations per area, and weekly gatherings outside the Metropolitan Detention Center led by Pastor Juan Carlos, serve as spiritual anchors and moments of collective mourning and resistance.
Beyond public action, the coalition is addressing the deeper spiritual and emotional toll of detention and deportation. Faith leaders expressed a need for shared pastoral care resources, particularly as congregants face the trauma of loved ones being detained or disappearing without notice.
Looking ahead, members voiced a desire to meet biweekly, increase interfaith participation, and enhance communication through shared calendars and coordinated advocacy. While Hands Off NYC does not take formal legislative positions, attendees discussed the importance of tracking bills like Senate Bill 4121, which would protect sensitive locations from ICE enforcement.
“We had whistles. They had guns,” said Becca Good, widow of Renee Good, in a recent statement—an expression that continues to galvanize many within the movement. For those gathered on January 8, the message was clear: faith communities are not bystanders in this moment. They are first responders, called to protect, bear witness, and build a city grounded in justice and compassion.
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