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Poughkeepsie mayor urges local help after Social Security office closure; city outlines immigrant outreach
Summary
The City of Poughkeepsie said Social Security services will be diverted to Middletown and described plans to help seniors and immigrants access benefits. Mayor Flowers and public speakers urged broader outreach after two ICE sightings in the area.
Poughkeepsie Mayor Flowers said the city is coordinating with county and federal partners after the local Social Security office was removed from the renovation list and services were redirected to Middletown, and she described steps the city will take to help residents access benefits.
The mayor told the Common Council the city is discussing transportation options and shared-service approaches with the county, and working with federal elected officials to preserve access to Social Security services. “Right now, the services are going to be diverted to Middletown,” Mayor Flowers said. She added the city and county are exploring options including satellite or pop-up service locations and in-person help for seniors who must use online systems.
The matter drew public comment from Daniel Latona, who said the city should do more to provide immigrant residents with information about their legal rights. “Being an undocumented immigrant is not a crime,” Latona said, and urged the city to distribute know-your-rights materials ahead of any enforcement actions. Latona, who identified himself as a union member and community organizer who lives in Ward 8, also promoted local trainings and community meetings.
Why it matters: the closure shifts in-person Social Security services out of Poughkeepsie, affecting seniors and residents who rely on direct help for benefits and transactions. Separately, two confirmed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sightings in the area prompted concerns about resident safety and prompted calls for clearer city guidance on rights and police protocols.
City response and next steps Mayor Flowers said city staff have been talking with county officials about transportation and about setting up assistance for residents who need in-person help applying for or navigating federal benefits. She said county legislator Randy Johnson has been involved in conversations about providing transport to Middletown and that the city is working with the county executive’s office on outreach options.
On immigration enforcement, the mayor said police and city officials have protocols and that the city is considered a safe city under guidance adopted in 2017. “We are considered a safe city,” she said, adding that the police department has been informed of appropriate procedures and will not collect immigration status information when residents come forward to report crimes.
The council was told the city will publish a statement if ICE agents operate locally and that outreach materials — including pocket cards summarizing rights — are available through council offices. A council member offered printed “red cards” containing rights information for distribution at community events.
Public comments and community offers During public participation, Daniel Latona urged the city’s official Facebook and other channels to publish simple, accessible “know your rights” information and to promote trainings. He listed standard precautions for interactions with ICE — for example, advising residents not to open doors without a warrant and to invoke the right to remain silent — and invited residents to a March 13 know-your-rights training.
Another speaker, Warren Jones, used the public-comment period to raise other neighborhood concerns including alleged illegal evictions and park ownership, and urged officials to prioritize local services.
Implementation limits and open questions Mayor Flowers cautioned that the city’s options are constrained by federal and county responsibilities; she said some outcomes hinge on county or federal decisions. She also said the police department cannot prevent lawful federal action but will work to ensure residents who report crimes are not treated differently because of immigration status.
What’s next The mayor said she will keep the council informed as county and federal discussions continue and that city staff will follow up on distribution of rights cards, community trainings, and possible local assistance sites to help residents access Social Security services.
