On a sunny Saturday morning in Jackson Heights, Queens, 50 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds mobilized to distribute 500 informational guides throughout the neighborhood. This effort reflects Documented’s commitment to community-led solidarity and the belief that when residents have the tools to navigate local challenges, they are better equipped to protect one another.
Divided into five teams, volunteers and staff canvassed local institutions — including the Queens Public Library, Queens Neighborhoods United, and the Jackson Heights Immigration Center — alongside community hubs like the Jackson Heights Islamic Center, Om Shakti Temple, and The World’s Borough Bookshop. They also distributed materials at local eateries, including Nuevo Tacos Al Suadero, Tacos Don Jose 1, and Cafe Rubio, before concluding at major subway stations along Roosevelt Avenue.
This initiative comes as ICE arrests have surged by 212% in the New York metropolitan area, according to a Documented analysis utilizing data from the University of California’s Deportation Data Project, which also identifies Corona and Elmhurst as ICE hotspots.
Larissa, a volunteer, said the experience was “an amazing opportunity to meet value-aligned people”. An unidentified recipient told one of our staff about their loved one who was taken by ICE, and that they were incredibly thankful for actionable resources.
The hand-outs are on display and available at various locations throughout Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.
Education and Empowerment for Queens residents
The first resource, “What to know about ICE in Queens,” was authored by Documented journalists Lam Thuy Vo and Eileen Grench. It details the story of Tomás, a delivery driver who was arrested by ICE in Corona in November of last year. By recounting how community members secured his release through advocacy and mutual aid, the handout demonstrates the tangible impact of local solidarity and collective action.
This pamphlet can be found in English and Spanish.
The second resource, a zine titled “Safety Planning Guide for Immigrants,” was developed after Documented staff observed growing anxiety within the immigrant community regarding the threat of detention. Legal experts and nonprofit advocates emphasize that proactive safety planning is essential; consequently, this zine outlines critical steps immigrants can take, including childcare arrangements and the organization of important legal documentation.
This zine and printing information (for both) can be found on this Documented article. It is available in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Documented is publishing these guides under the Creative Commons CC-BY-ND-NC license. This means you can copy and distribute the material for noncommercial purposes (meaning you cannot make profit from it) as long as you credit Documented.
Documented is incredibly proud of this venture, and our community in Queens. We hope to continue similar projects in the future. We will be having more volunteer opportunities in the future so keep an eye out!
An instagram post about the event can be found here.
This story is part of Holding the Line in Queens, an ongoing series examining issues important to members of New York City’s immigrant communities.
