Res. No. 257
Title
Resolution calling on the New York City Police Department and the City of New York to follow an executive order promulgated under the Koch administration that prevents the Police Department from investigating the immigration status of crime victims, persons seeking assistance or volunteering to act as a witness, and thus acting as agents of the Department of Justice's Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Body
By Council Members Monserrate, Baez, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, DeBlasio, Foster, Gennaro, Gerson, Jennings, Liu, Martinez, Moskowitz, Quinn, Reed, Reyna, Rivera, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart, Vann and Jackson
Whereas, Attorney General John Ashcroft has proposed that local law enforcement be "deputized" as agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), thus enforcing immigration laws; and
Whereas, Assuming the authority to arrest and detain individuals suspected of immigration violations as asked by Attorney General Ashcroft would further put a strain on police-community relations; and
Whereas, The effect of such policy would be an increasingly strenuous relationship between the NYPD and immigrant communities of the City of New York; and
Whereas, Immigrant communities, who already have difficulty reporting crimes to the Police Department due to cultural and language barriers, will be more hesitant to report crimes because such a policy breeds distrust; and
Whereas, Moreover, such distrust will impact these communities disproportionately because crimes will be unreported and individuals may refuse to be witnesses or call the police for assistance; and
Whereas, Those who have crimes committed against them will be victimized by the initial event and then by the fear of reporting to the police or scrutiny over their immigration status; and
Whereas, A more effective policy would be to enlist the help of immigrants and minority communities to prevent crime rather than having these communities suspicious of the Department's policies; and
Whereas, Among the most vocal critics of such policy are local and state law enforcement organizations across the country; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York City Police Department and the City of New York to follow an executive order promulgated under the Koch administration that prevents the Police Department from investigating the immigration status of crime victims, persons seeking assistance or volunteering to act as a witness, and thus acting as agents of the Department of Justice's Immigration and Naturalization Services.