Protecting Immigrant New Yorkers

My ‘New York For All’ Act ensures true public safety by keeping families together.

Whether you were born in Bogota or Brooklyn, in Beirut or Buffalo, you deserve to have the freedom of movement without fear or panic. But right now, thousands of immigrant New Yorkers wake up worrying that today might be the day something happens that could lead to them being torn away from their families, their communities, and the home they’ve built here. 

For years, ICE’s raids have cruelly separated families, and ICE has leaned on local law enforcement and government agencies to aid their arrests and deportations. All New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, want to lead open lives, participate in their communities, provide for their family, and access health care without intimidation.

My New York for All Act prohibits local law enforcement and state agencies from conspiring with ICE and Border Patrol or participating in their cruelty. ICE won’t be able to enter non-public areas of state and local property—or use state information—without a warrant. And New Yorkers held in ICE custody would be given clear notice of their rights before being interviewed.

That means New Yorkers can attend parent-teacher conferences, visit public hospitals and file necessary labor violations without worrying about deportation. There are other benefits, too:

• A New York for all is safer for everybody. No one should have to fear that calling emergency services may bring ICE to their door. When people are too scared to call for help, it makes us all less safe. In fact, the data shows there’s no link at all between increasing deportations and lower crime rates.

• Policies that protect immigrants have economic benefits for all. Millions of undocumented immigrants are essential workers. When residents trust local officials, they participate more in the local economy.

• Other states have passed similar legislation to keep local resources out of federal immigration enforcement. New Jersey, Washington, and California already have similar sanctuary policies or legislation, and New York City passed its own policy to keep police and other agencies out of ICE’s agenda.

• We don’t have to wait for Washington. Divisive national politics create mistrust and fear, but politicians in D.C. have still done nothing to fix our broken immigration system. We need to take steps to ensure New York works for all, now.

We can build a New York that invests in families and works to unite them, not divide them across countries and continents. We can build a New York that invests in our immigrant communities and works to keep them safe. We can build a New York For All.