DEI means recognizing the intrinsic humanity in everyone.



Rights Guide: Special Issue February 28, 2025

For a printable version of this publication, click here.

As we continue to navigate the impact of new federal policies and directives, we hope to share helpful information and resources.

One of the most important things each of us can do is to be informed about the issues, our rights, and the resources and support services that are available to us all. This guide offers some strategies for how to stay safe and protect yourself and each other. The topics included here are Immigration, Gender and LGBTQ+, Civil Rights, and Anti-Bullying. 

In upholding our mission to support, learn, teach, live, and work together in Philipstown, safety for all in our community is a paramount concern. As new policies emerge, we will update you and this document.

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

It is important to be aware of the rights you have in the United States as an international or undocumented member of our community. The content below is not intended to be legal advice. For further guidance, we recommend consulting an attorney.

U.S. Laws:

The Immigration and Naturalization Act (Title 8 of the U.S. Code) gives reasons (listed here) why noncitizens can be removed from the United States.

Executive orders signed by President Trump since January 20, 2025 have changed the deportation process in ways that remove protections for individuals and by-pass protections and remedies that were previously available. This summary by the Vera Institute of Justice explains the impact of recent executive orders.

This official website for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides up-to-date information on government actions.

New York State Guidance on Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students:

This link to the office of the NYS Attorney General highlights and clarifies relevant resources for school districts regarding their obligations under state and federal law.

By law, New York guarantees free public education to everyone aged 5 to 21 without a high school diploma, regardless of immigration status.

Schools need court orders and parental permission to let immigration agents question or detain students. School safety officers can’t ask about or share student records with ICE. Schools should keep emergency contact lists up-to-date in case family members are detained or deported.

ICE agents need a judge’s warrant before schools or police can participate in arrests or for immigration violations in New York.

Philipstown Equal Rights Resolution:

In 2017, the Town of Philipstown passed the Philipstown Equal Rights Resolution that ensures “equal protection” to all residents, regardless of immigration status. The resolution states that any Philipstown department, officer, employee or representative acting in an official capacity, unless required by state or federal law or a judicial order, cannot:

• investigate or assist in an investigation of immigration or citizenship status;
• aid in arrests or detentions initiated by agencies enforcing federal immigration law; or
• request, maintain or disclose details of immigration status.

Please see coverage of this resolution in the Highlands Current.

IMMIGRANT RESOURCES

New York State:

• How to File a Complaint with the NYS Division of Civil Rights
• New York State Guidance on Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students Guidance
• Information to Help New York’s Libraries Safeguard the Rights of Immigrants

• NYS Dept of Education
• Safeguarding the Rights of New York State Immigrant Students January 27, 2025
• Statement on Recent Executive Orders Regarding Public Education
• Information Regarding Recent Immigration-Related Actions

• New York State Office for New Americans 
• Office of New Americans Hotline number available for referrals to legal services or other support. Call 1-800-566-7636, Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm, all calls are confidential and information is available in 200+ languages. 

• American Immigration Lawyers Association  
• Know Your Rights Handouts
• For the Many
• National Immigrant Justice Center
• Immigration Justice: Know Your Rights

• New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC)
• Know Your Rights Training & Wallet Cards 
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center 
• Print your own red cards that explain your rights

• American Civil Liberties Union
• Provides examples of what to do in different scenarios
• New York Civil Liberties Union
• Immigrant Defense Project 
• Hispanic Lawyers Network (Website also in Spanish)
• Neighbors Link 

CIVIL RIGHTS/RIGHT TO PROTEST

• The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
• American Civil Liberties Union - Know-your-rights/protesters-rights
• American Friends Service Committee - How to Stay Safer at a Protest
• Amnesty International Protect the Protest

ANTI-BULLYING

• Right to Be

This nonprofit offers online and in-person training to address the defending of rights for all groups of people. Some training is free. 

• Be a Friend Project

Located in Beacon; part of a national “Kids for Kids” organization 

supporting student “Upstanders” working to end bullying.

• The Talk

This collection of posts from The Emancipator newsletter explores how identity shapes the way we keep our children safe. 

Introduction

The Talk for Black Girls

A Letter to my White Sons

The Talk for Young Sikh Americans

The Talk for Chinese-American Families

The Talk: A Dual Reality for Native Kids

The Talk for Indian-American Kids

PHILIPSTOWN HOUSES OF WORSHIP

The following have offered to be contacted for assistance requests. (No church or synagogue is currently able to provide physical shelter.)

First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown

• The Rev. Brian Merritt, Pastor     703-801-7643

Our Lady of Loretto Church

• Fr. Thomas Lutz, Pastor      845-265-3718

Philipstown Reform Synagogue  

• Cathy Duke, President      914-450-4188

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church-in-the-Highlands

• The Rev. Steve Schunk, Rector      845-265-2539

St. Philip’s Church in the Highlands

The Rev. Amanda Eiman, Rector      845-424-3571

About the Philipstown DEI Committee

Our informal group was formed in response to a racist incident at a library event in 2021. Members representing the Garrison Union Free School District, the Haldane PTA EDI Committee, Butterfield Library, and the Desmond-Fish Public Library developed a community-wide survey, the results of which can be read here. The two school districts and the two public libraries have also been joined by the Manitou School and a growing list of other community organizations. All are welcome to be part of the effort. Please contact philipstowndei@gmail.com

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Philipstown DEI Committee is to raise awareness

and foster learning and sharing opportunities that promote

community-wide engagement.  By working together across institutions, we strive to ensure that all Philipstown community members are represented, acknowledged, and valued.

Future Plans

We invite you to join our Zoom meetings that are held the last Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. The next meeting is Tuesday, March 25, at 4:30 p.m. To obtain a link to the meetings, email japicello@gufs.org.

To sign up for the Newsletter mailing list,

please visit our Website or email philipstowndei@gmail.com

Our goal is to share future newsletters in Spanish also; thank you for your patience.

Compartiremos futuros boletines en español; gracias por su paciencia.

La diversidad, la equidad y la inclusión son objetivos muy importantes.