New York immigrant rights supporters oppose Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new immigration proposal, which calls for local and state law enforcement to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement if there’s probable cause a person committed a crime.
Some groups worry officers might turn over New Yorkers based on discriminatory bias and racial profiling.
Luba Cortés, civil rights and immigration lead organizer for Make the Road New York, said this can turn a traffic stop into a deportation.
“An example of that could be a car seat that was not maybe buckled properly, and then he can assume that there’s child neglect,” she said. “Things can spiral out of control, and so that’s a deep concern we have, that it leaves a lot of room for them to make assumptions.”
Hochul said the proposal would ensure federal agents can track down people accused of violent and serious crimes. However, data show the majority of people swept up in immigration arrests since federal crackdowns began have no criminal record. New reports show the governor is considering only ending cooperation between ICE and local officers in civil cases, but leaving broad discretion about how to collaborate on criminal cases.
Advocates feel two bills state lawmakers are considering would better address immigrant safety concerns. The New York For All Act would end 287(g) agreements, which allows local law enforcement to work with ICE. Meanwhile, the Dignity Not Detention Act prohibits any person or any entity in the state from owning or operating an immigrant facility.
Cortés said another bill – the Access to Representation Act – is equally important.
“The Access to Representation Act would ensure that there is money to help support legal services for people in detention,” she said, “and I believe the number is about $175 million to support this process.”
While there are similar programs in New York City, this would create statewide services. She added that enacting this bill ensures people are aware of their rights while in detention and that having quality legal services makes it more likely they’ll be released.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].