New York, March 27, 2008 --- Africans In America, Inc. participated in New York Manhattan Borough President‘s Immigrant Rights Task Force meeting held on Thursday March 27, 2008 in New York City.

The meeting was chaired and moderated by Jimmy Yan, the General Counsel at the Office of Manhattan Borough President.

The major highlight of the meeting was presentation by Daisy Mejia, Attorney-In-Charge of the Manhattan District Attorney’s (DA) just-created Immigrant Affairs Program. Ms. Mejia explained the DA’s new unit, how it can help immigrants who are victims of various frauds; including human trafficking, unpaid wages and immigration consultation. The unit’s benefits to immigrants regardless of immigration status are just many and very crucial.

Jimmy Yan, General Counsel at the Office of Manhattan Borough President and Daisy Mejia, Attorney-In-Charge of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office appealed to organizations and community leaders present to assist them in getting the messages to the grassroots.

Another key presentation was made by representative of MFY Legal Services. MFY’s presentation covered immigrant worker rights, wage claims and Small Claims Court access. MFY’s presentation, also, essentially covers resources available to immigrants regardless of immigration status.

There was also presentation by Manhattan Borough President’s new Borough Construction Watch Initiative focusing on construction safety for workers and city residents. Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer in February initiated the Borough Construction Watch, an inter-agency and coalition-based response to a pattern of construction tragedies and accidents affecting residents and workers, including many immigrant workers.

The final presentation was made by SAKHI for South Asian Women which covers challenges and difficulties of Court Interpretation Services and efforts to overcome some of those challenges.

Present at the meeting, also, were leaders of various immigrant community organizations and service providers in New York, attorneys and advocates, representative of City Comptroller’s office, representative of Mexican Consulate, contingent of the news media, including local press and international press agencies, such as Aljazeera Network.

The Executive Director of Africans In America, Inc., Bonaventure Ezekwenna represented the organization at the meeting. Mr. Ezekwenna thanked Jimmy Yan, the General Counsel and Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer for inviting Africans In America, Inc. to the forum.

Mr. Ezekwenna stated that information from the Manhattan Borough President‘s Immigrant Rights Task Force meeting will be very useful for the immigrant African community in New York and beyond.