Executive Brief: RISE State of the Field Summit
On March 31, 2026, RISE convened leaders across social services, legal, advocacy, media, and academia to examine how current conditions are impacting immigrant communities and the systems designed to support them.
Watch as our panel explores the complex intersection of immigration, economic messaging, and political strategy.
A Message from Our Executive Director
We are living through a moment that is placing unprecedented strain on immigrant communities across New York City, and on the systems meant to support them. Families are skipping doctor’s appointments, avoiding court dates, and pulling their children out of programs, not because they don’t need support, but because they are afraid.
This is not a short-term disruption. It is the result of deliberate policy choices that are increasing enforcement, creating instability, and overwhelming the organizations working to respond.
Families are being forced to make impossible decisions about their safety, their health, and their future, often with little time and limited support. That reality must remain at the center of everything we do.
At RISE, we are responding by deepening partnerships, strengthening coordination, and ensuring immigrant families have access to clear information, trusted services, and consistent support - no matter how quickly conditions change.
Our State of the Field Summit brought together leaders across sectors to reflect on what this moment demands. One thing was clear: no single organization can meet this challenge alone, but together, we can build the coordinated infrastructure our communities urgently need.
In Solidarity,
Berta Colón
“This is not just about immigrants, this is about how it affects all of us.”
-–Dr. Jessica Lee
The U.S. immigration system has entered a period of prolonged instability. In the last year, rapid policy shifts and aggressive enforcement have created a climate that is not only harder to navigate, but actively hostile to the 4.5 million immigrants who call New York home.
On March 31, RISE convened leaders across social services, legal, advocacy, media, and academia to examine how current conditions are impacting immigrant communities and the systems designed to support them.
Panelists described a shared reality: systems are under increasing strain, and the scale and complexity of need continue to grow.
In this context, RISE plays a key role connecting English language instruction with legal services, workforce development, media literacy, and essential needs support through a trusted network of community partners.
What follows are the key insights from that conversation and what this moment requires of all of us.
Realities on the Ground
“Over 26,000 habeas corpus petitions have been filed nationally since the start of this current presidential administration. People are going to routine ICE check-ins not knowing if they will be detained or separated from their families. People are feeling unsafe in their own communities.”
–Ernie Collette
Fear is now a primary barrier to public health and safety, not only for immigrant communities, but for New Yorkers broadly. It is reshaping how people navigate daily life and whether they access the systems meant to support them.
THE LEGAL SYSTEM:
UNPREDICTABILITY & ACCESS GAPS
The legal landscape has become increasingly difficult to navigate, even for experienced practitioners.
Unpredictable Enforcement: Individuals are being detained during routine ICE check-ins, creating a system where compliance no longer guarantees safety.
Surging Detention & Backlogs: Habeas corpus petitions have exceeded 26,000 nationally, while federal immigration backlogs stretch for years, delaying resolution and prolonging instability for families.
The Pro Bono Gap: While New York has led in providing legal representation for detained individuals, many large law firms remain hesitant to litigate against rapidly shifting federal policies. This has created a significant shortage of high-stakes legal representation at a time of increasing need.
Constant Policy Shifts: Ongoing changes to asylum rules and expedited processes require real-time adaptation, making the system harder to navigate and less predictable for both clients and providers.
MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS:
MISINFORMATION AND NARRATIVE GAPS
In the absence of clear and consistent public communication, misinformation is filling the void.
Rapid Spread of Misinformation: Platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok are amplifying unverified or misleading information, leaving individuals to make critical decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate guidance.
Information Access Barriers: Without trusted, accessible sources of information, many individuals rely on word-of-mouth, increasing confusion and vulnerability to exploitation.
Narrative Disconnect: Even well-documented evidence of immigrants’ economic contributions is not resonating in broader public discourse. This disconnect between reality and perception continues to shape harmful narratives and policy responses
SOCIAL SERVICES, ECONOMIC STABILITY & HOUSING:
FEAR-DRIVEN DISENGAGEMENT
Access to essential services is becoming increasingly inconsistent, as more families disengage from systems they would otherwise rely on.
Service Avoidance: Families are skipping medical appointments, avoiding housing court, even with valid claims, and withdrawing children from school programs out of fear of immigration enforcement. When families avoid essential services, the consequences extend beyond individuals to the health and stability of entire communities.
Economic Insecurity: Wage theft is increasing, and many newcomers are pushed into a “two-tier” economy of unstable, informal work. Without access to safe employment pathways, individuals remain economically vulnerable and less able to assert their rights.
Housing Instability & Exploitation: Landlords are increasingly using the threat of immigration enforcement to silence tenants. Even when legal protections exist, fear keeps many out of court, leading families to abandon stable housing and accept unsafe or exploitative conditions.
Across all these dynamics, one thing is clear: Fear, misinformation, and structural gaps are reinforcing one another, making it harder for individuals to access support and for systems to respond effectively.
RISE: AN ESSENTIAL HUB
"At Riverside, our work is about showing up for people. It is about helping our community make sense of complicated systems, access the support they need, and find stability in uncertain times.”
–Berta Colón
We act as a trusted home base for immigrant families:
Language as Power: We don’t just teach vocabulary; we provide the "navigation tools" families need to move through New York with confidence. When a person can speak for themselves at a doctor’s office, a parent-teacher conference, or in a courtroom, they aren't just communicating, they are asserting their right to be heard and understood.
Protecting Against Misinformation: Language is the first line of defense. By giving participants the tools to understand official documents and news in real-time, we help them bypass the "neighborhood rumors" and predatory scams that thrive on confusion. We share accurate, trusted information through community-based communication outlets, helping families avoid scams and confusion.
From "Surviving" to "Belonging": Mastering English turns a "scary system" into a manageable one. It gives people the framework to ask for help, negotiate a fair wage, and connect with their neighbors, transforming them from isolated newcomers into active, vocal members of the community.
Connecting the Dots: We bring together trusted partners in law, social services, and healthcare to ensure no family "falls through the cracks" or disappears when they need help the most.
Better Jobs, Better Lives: Through our workforce development and digital literacy programs, we help participants move past "survival jobs" and the gig economy. We connect them to safe work and training that pays a fair wage and respects their actual skills.
Invest in Solutions
"We’re very good in the city of saying that we're protecting immigrants and working hard. But when it comes down to the nuts and bolts, we still need a lot more support and we really need to make sure that we provide those supports to the people that have been doing this work [in the field], regardless of any administration or any crisis.”
–Ernie Collette
Alignment of values is no longer enough. This moment requires action. Demand for RISE’s services is growing exponentially.
If you believe immigrant families deserve safety, stability, and opportunity, make a gift today to meet this urgent need.
Sustained, flexible funding is what allows New York’s immigrant communities to move from prolonged uncertainty to lasting stability. Your support directly funds legal services, housing stability, and critical resources for families right now.
Here’s what your support makes possible:
RISE Up:
Working Together to Help Our Community
To meet this moment, our collective efforts make all the difference. Your engagement, partnership, and support are essential. We ask all of our stakeholders to:
Shift the Narrative: Use your platforms to highlight the positive social and economic contributions of immigrants rather than the negative tropes prevalent in the media. Use your voice and platforms to document and challenge misinformation and help shape more accurate, human-centered narratives.
Document & Challenge: Report local law enforcement/ICE collaborations and push back against harmful immigrant narratives. Send local reporters tips, so our community can stay informed and engaged.
Advocate: Support policies that decouple local law enforcement from federal immigration activity.
Inform: Share verified information from trusted sources within your professional networks. Support efforts that help individuals safely assert their rights, including know-your-rights.
Donate: Make contributions to non-profits on the front lines, like RISE and our community partners, to support community-based organizations providing direct, essential services to immigrants and their families.
