Janize Hernandez spent her Saturday morning driving 40 minutes from her hometown of Plainville to Danbury鈥檚 Kennedy Park. There, she grabbed pamphlets, flyers and that detail constitutional rights, and distributed them to inform immigrant families.
鈥淚'm a little nervous because it's my first time,鈥� Hernandez said. 鈥淚 want to make sure that I'm doing this right, but I'm also pretty excited to be able to do something, especially with others that have this experience.鈥�
, a local pro-immigrant advocacy group, launched the canvassing campaign Saturday.
The 鈥淔amilies Belong Together Days of Action鈥� campaign aims to protect immigrant families by building the community network of support in Danbury. That involves weekly canvassing efforts from advocates and volunteers through the end of November.
鈥淗onestly, I could be in this position,鈥� Hernandez said. 鈥淕enuinely, ICE does not care who you are.鈥�
Hernandez is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent. She said though she and her family members are documented, it鈥檚 upsetting for her to see fellow Latinos and other immigrants living in fear because of the federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants locally and in cities like Chicago.
ICE activity reportedly picked up in Chicago around the time that federal immigration officers may consider race and other factors when deciding to detain someone.
鈥淚t doesn't matter who you are,鈥� Hernandez said. 鈥淲e're all in this together. So, I can take a little 40 minute drive out of my Saturday morning to come and canvas for two hours.鈥�
Seeking community in times of uncertainty
The launch brought together about 80 people who divided into small groups, each with at least one Spanish speaker, that were sent off to canvas designated neighborhoods populated with immigrant families or that were heavily targeted by reported ICE surveillance, according to Danbury Unites members.
Angela Cusicanqui stood among the group of Spanish-speaking volunteers Saturday morning, holding a clipboard of information as she waited to be paired with non-Spanish speakers before canvassing.
鈥淚 feel moved and excited,鈥� Cusicanqui said in Spanish about canvassing for the first time. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more than a campaign. I think building community support is about checking in, connecting with neighbors one-on-one and asking, 鈥楬ow are you? Are you doing ok? How can we support each other?鈥欌��
As an immigrant herself, Cusicanqui said she felt a need to support the people of her community.
鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 an injustice and of bad taste, everything that鈥檚 happening,鈥� Cusicanqui said. 鈥淚t leaves a very bad taste in my mouth with this country and how immigrants are currently being treated here.鈥�
Cusicanqui said it鈥檚 especially important for her to come out and support because many people can鈥檛, but as a naturalized citizen, she can.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for citizens, like me, I am now a citizen, to exercise my right of being against [these actions],鈥� Cusicanqui said.
Danbury Unites has launched a help line as part of the canvassing campaign that can provide resources and support to those in need.
For the safety of the advocacy group and the community it serves, Danbury Unites co-founder Juan Fonseca Tapia asked to not share the help line number. Rather, he said he encourages local residents in need to reach out to Danbury Unites directly for more information.
Learn more
Canvassing for the runs every Saturday through November 22.
can be found on and for ongoing updates.
