Hundreds rally in support of refugees, immigrants

Hundreds marched and chanted in the cold night in the City of Poughkeepsie. They came to lend their voices in support of refugees and immigrants and stand opposed to President Donald Trump's travel ban.  

Wednesday's rally was sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Refugee Solidarity Alliance, along with the Dutchess County Interfaith Council, Greater Newburgh Interfaith Council, and area colleges and faith congregations. 

"We are here to express our support for refugees, reject Islamophobia and stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters," said Maria Höhn, a Vassar College history professor and one of the founders of the Mid-Hudson Refugee Solidarity Alliance.

WHAT TO KNOW: Trump’s executive order on refugees, immigration

READ: Parishioners petition against travel ban

COLLEGES: Local colleges grapple with Trump's travel ban 

For Sana Mustafa, a 25-year-old Bard College graduate from Syria, Red Hook is home.

"I came here three years ago as a refugee," said Mustafa, speaking to a crowd of hundreds of people that attended a City of Poughkeepsie rally on Wednesday in support of refugees, immigrants and Muslims. "I found a home here. However, my family fled to Turkey and they have not been able to come here."

The nonprofit group Church World Service planned to place 80 refugees from Syria, Iraq and the Congo in Poughkeepsie.

REACTIONS: Local leaders react to Trump immigration ban 

The move to relocate refugees to Poughkeepsie has been frozen after Trump signed a 120-day ban on Friday on refugees allowed into the country and an indefinite ban on those from Syria. The order bans immigrants from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia from entering the U.S. for 90 days and bars refugee admissions for 120 days. Syrian refugees were banned indefinitely by the order.

 The New York Times reported that one refugee family arrived in Dutchess County on Tuesday from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"We received a family (Tuesday) ... which will probably be our only family for a while until this ban is lifted," said Höhn.

The Mid-Hudson Refugee Solidarity Alliance has been working with Church World Services to open a resettlement office in the City of Poughkeepsie since April.

Hundreds of people marched from Mill Street to the post office in the City of Poughkeepsie, chanting: "No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here!" and "Show me what democracy looks like, this is what democracy looks like!"

"It's horrible ... this is a created fear, along with others that this administration is forcing on the American people," said Frank Pepe, a Clinton Corners resident and retired Arlington school district superintendent. "It's unnecessary, it's unrealistic. We're here to receive people. Receive the stranger ... be of assistance to others."

Lauren Adams, a 20-year-old Marist College student who majors in social work, said she attended the rally because "this is something I think is really important. I think everyone has a place here in America." 

Still, there are plenty of locals are in favor of Trump's executive order.

Community members have questioned how it's possible to "vet" refugees from war-torn countries, why resources aren't going toward helping struggling people at home, and whether housing refugees will bring an increased safety risk.

"That refugee office has in-depth services that a struggling single mother like myself can't utilize," said Christine Vinson, a Poughkeepsie resident, via a Facebook post. "Job-prep, placement, case management, fundraising by volunteers. I get nothing, but struggles that pile up."

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-451-4518, Twitter: @pojonschutzman; The Journal News contributed to this report.