Immigration activists gathered at Foley Square Thursday as part of a “Communities Not Cages” Day of Action. 

They demanded that the federal government end all deportations and shut down detention centers, especially the Hudson County Correctional Center. 

Families for Freedom, The Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, Make the Road New York, Abolish ICE, and other groups held the event.  

Many told News 12 that they are outraged after seeing what’s been happening to Haitian migrants trying to enter the country in Texas. As part of this demonstration, activists had detainees on the phone while they were inside of some of the facilities, describing the conditions they were facing as they were being held. 

The groups say that they don’t want to see any more immigrants detained as they believe there is another way.