As rumors of immigration enforcement activity spread across the Hudson Valley — often on social media — one local organization is working to slow misinformation while preparing volunteers to verify reports and support families when detentions occur.
The Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, founded in 2016, provides legal support referrals, language services, transportation assistance, food equity assistance, and community education for immigrants across Columbia, Greene, and parts of Dutchess counties. An increasingly central part of that work is its rapid response network, a volunteer system designed to confirm reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity and connect detained individuals with legal and family support.
David Quituisaca, a donor organizer and volunteer coordinator said the Hudson-based organization has tracked 20 disappearances in Columbia County in recent months, referring to individuals detained by federal authorities whose whereabouts were initially unknown. In those cases, the organization works with legal partners to locate detainees, notify family members, and provide support such as commissary funds or transportation.
“We saw people in our community who were scared to go to work, scared to live their daily lives,” said Quituisaca. “Rapid response was created to meet that fear with structure and training.”
The rapid response network includes more than 60 vetted volunteers who receive regular training on safety, documentation, and de-escalation. When a resident reports possible ICE activity through the group’s emergency hotline, trained operators collect details and send the information to volunteers in the area, who help determine whether the report is accurate.
The organization emphasizes that volunteers do not interfere with enforcement actions.
“We’re very clear about that,” Quituisaca said. “We say ‘intervene, not interfere.’ The goal is verification, documentation, and making sure people don’t disappear into the system without support.”
Fear tied to enforcement activity has rippled through daily life for immigrant communities in the region, Quituisaca said. Restaurants that rely on immigrant customers have seen fewer patrons. Families have avoided public gatherings. Even holiday toy distributions were affected, with some parents asking volunteers to deliver gifts rather than risk traveling to pick them up.
To counter both misinformation and disinformation, the organization holds regular “Know Your Rights” and rapid response trainings, including sessions focused on responsibly verifying ICE sightings. Rumors, Quituisaca said, can cause widespread panic.
In addition to emergency response, the group trains farmworkers and rural residents, often traveling directly to farms or remote communities to hold workshops. The organization also collaborates with neighboring immigrant advocacy groups in Ulster and Albany counties on a range of immigration related issues, often advocating for policy reforms at the New York State Capitol.
Quituisaca, who joined the organization’s staff after years as a volunteer, said the work is demanding but necessary.
“For every win, there’s also a loss,” he said. “But I’d rather be doing this — educating people, helping them feel safer, and strengthening the community.”
The organization is currently seeking additional volunteers and community partners. Trainings are free for vetted volunteers but require an application process, which Quituisaca said is essential when working with vulnerable populations.
“People watch the news and feel powerless,” he said. “But change happens locally — by knowing your neighbors, learning what’s happening in your town, and showing up.”
I thought we were to follow the governments orders. How much is it costing Columbia County residents to pay for illegals? What exactly are “sanctuary counties”? Let Ice do their job.