'Don't-ask' policy will hurt city of immigrants

New York Daily News ^ | June 5, 2003 | Albor Ruiz

[sarcasm]

"Executive Order 34 finds the right balance between encouraging immigrants to seek vital city services," Mayor Bloomberg said in a written statement, "while preventing city agencies and police from becoming an arm of the INS, which will never happen under my administration."

Sounds good. And the mayor, of course, can say whatever he wants. But something is sure: His words won't change reality.

His new confidentiality policy for city agencies, contained in Executive Order 34, is certain to scare the hell out of undocumented immigrants. And to have a negative impact on the city as a whole.

"With more than 8 million people, our city is only as safe and healthy as each of the individuals who call it home," said Queens City Councilman Hiram Monserrate, one of several Council members and immigration advocates who Tuesday staged a protest on the steps of City Hall.

The new policy, made public by Bloomberg on Friday (although he had quietly signed it on May 13), revokes Executive Order 124, issued by Mayor Koch 13 years ago and strongly supported by the Dinkins and Giuliani administrations.

It prohibited city agencies from revealing immigration-related information to federal authorities, unless the immigrant had committed a crime.

The new order, with its "don't-ask" policy when someone is applying for a service or benefit and immigration status is not relevant to determining the person's eligibility, takes away some important protections.

"The omission of any limits on police inquiries regarding immigration status, as well as provisions to prevent sharing of information by city workers, will radically change the city's relationship to its millions of immigrant residents," said Moisés Pérez, executive director of Alianza Dominicana,

Safety repercussions

That is, forget about immigrants reporting crimes and fires, or seeking public health services. And get ready for poorer public health and impaired safety in the city.

Monserrate, a former cop, believes the new policy is completely counterproductive.

"In a city that is 40% foreign-born, it is essential for these communities not to be afraid to access city services that stop disease from spreading, keep crime levels at historic lows and put an end to discrimination," he said.

It is public knowledge that violence against Arab and Muslim immigrants increased sharply after 9/11. Even worse, most victims already were scared enough not to go to the authorities. With the new relaxed confidentiality rules, even fewer people will come forward, and more criminals will remain on the loose. Not good for anybody.

"We strongly oppose any cooperation between the NYPD or city employees and the INS," said Sarah Leah Whitson, of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in New York. "Such cooperation would be a great disservice to the immigrant community in general and the Arab community specifically.

"To face deportation because they called the police seeking help is wrong."

Few immigrants, of course, will be willing to risk it. And the whole city suffers for it. Even if Mayor Bloomberg does not think so.

[sarcasm]

His new confidentiality policy for city agencies, contained in Executive Order 34, is certain to scare the hell out of undocumented immigrants.

What a shame.

[sarcasm]

ping

[hellinahandcart]

Oh BS. Bloomberg wants them all amnestied so they can receive "valuable city services" we won't be able to pay for, since he's made darned sure city tax revenues are going to drop faster than an anvil out a 30-story window...

Ya gotta wonder how far left the author must be, if he can object to this incredibly weak, do-nothing EO from the most leftist mayor we've ever had.

[jehosophat]

Infact Koch now supports cracking down on Illegals.
Here is the link from steinreport.com

Former Mayor Edward I. Koch, who 13 years ago signed an executive order prohibiting city officials from reporting undocumented immigrants to federal authorities, came out yesterday in support of the Bloomberg administration's lifting the restriction.

"There are certain social programs provided by the city with federal funding that undocumented immigrants are not entitled to receive," Koch said in a written statement supporting the mayor. "The mayor should not be expected to, nor should he, violate federal laws in carrying out those programs."

At issue is the new executive order signed Friday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It states that city employees may ask people seeking government services about their immigration status if it's relevant to their eligiblity for the services.

Executive Order No. 34 also states that city police are permitted to cooperate with federal authorities in criminal investigations of undocumented immigrants.

"Executive Order 34 finds the right balance between encouraging immigrants to seek vital city services while preventing city agencies and police from becoming an arm of the INS \[Immigration and Naturalization Service\], which will never happen under my administration," Bloomberg said.

The policy change has nonetheless angered advocates for immigrants who gathered on the steps of City Hall yesterday to protest the new executive order.

"The omission of any limits on police inquiries regarding immigration status, as well as provisions to prevent sharing of information by city workers generally, will radically change the city's relationship to its millions of immigrant residents," said Moises Perez, executive director of Alianza Dominicana, a nonprofit advocacy and social service group in Manhattan.

The advocates argued that the new protocol will erode any trust immigrants may have in local police.

[txdoda]

Oh BS. Bloomberg wants them all amnestied so they can receive "valuable city services" we won't be able to pay for,>>>>>>>>

Hey, wonder what 'ol Bloomberg is *smoking* these days ????.....I too, read he announced, on his radio show, he wanted "all illegals given amnesty". Now a week later seems he's changed his lousy tune. Hope you "yankees" flooded the phones/mail in protest of any amnesty for millions of illegals.

Keep up the good work !! Americans everywhere need to protest this 'invasion' of OUR country.

btw..I love "yankees" & NYC....my mother born & raised in Brooklyn.

[hellinahandcart]

It wasn't the first time he'd said that, either.

Bloomberg is an obsessive-compulsive micromanager and social engineer, but even he realizes that the old policy had the effect of turning the city into a sanctuary for criminals. Police were enjoined from even telling the INS when a convicted criminal was about to be released from jail!

That policy resulted in the kidnapping and gang-rape of a woman last year, by five men who should have been deported as soon as they saw the outside of their cells. Even a leftist like BloomingIdiot knows he won't stand a chance of re-election if he's seen as soft on crime and weak on security.

[dennisw]

That policy resulted in the kidnapping and gang-rape of a woman last year, by five men who should have been deported............


If it weren't for that illegal alien Mexican gang rape nothing would be happening. Of course that rape was just the tip of the iceberg of criminality/scams/cheats/flouting the law by illegal aliens. Not all are bad but way too many are and do what they have to, to survive in a strange and foreign land.

[ozone1]

This is another of the liberal things du jour. They passed this is Portland Maine earlier this week.

Portland puts limits on questioning of immigrants

http://www.pressherald.com/news/local/030603immigration.shtml

Another example of where Bloomberg gets his marching orders from.

[txdoda]

Police were enjoined from even telling the INS when a convicted criminal was about to be released from jail! >>>>>

Easy to see why many local police 'overlook' lots of illegals, many cities have a "don't ask rule" (IDIOTS), then if a cop is allowed to ask, he must then contact our INEPT INS (good luck).
You'd think with the BILLIONS spent on our 'new & improved' HSD that things might improve just a little.....HA HA !! Ridge decided to do away with our INEPT INS, but he has only created an equally INEPT (enforcement) dept. "BICE".

Tues. a cop in Indiana pulls over car with 8 illegals, calls BICE, BICE then does a 'criminal check' & detains ONE, the other seven he then releases, but only after they
sign agreement, & *promise* to leave the USA within 30 days.

Sheeesh think the feds have ANY 'catch & release' for CITIZENS if they *promise* to right their wrong ???

Even a leftist like BloomingIdiot knows he won't stand a chance of re-election if he's seen as soft on crime and weak on security.>>>>>>>>>>

I hope citizens step up and vote out any politician/any party that is not performing for the good & safety of AMERICANS first. DC & our country is long over-due for a good 'house-cleaning'.


Read about the 5 mexicans & the rape last year, very tragic. I'm about 400 miles from the border, and believe me, even with 9-11 not much has changed, & some say it's worse, the illegals and the drugs just keep on comin'.

[madfly]

ping

[rmlew]

There are 3 "conservative" papers in NYC: the NY SUN, Wall Street Journal, and NY Post

The WSJ supports ending all immigration rules (or did before 9-11).
The NY Sun's immigration position comes from the New Republic.
The NY Post is the most sane, opposing illegal immigration.

It is time for New Yorkers to stand up for themselves and this country.
Has anyone tabulated the cost of illegal immigration to the city? What about legal immigration?
I figure we spend at least 8 billion on these.

[Regulator]

Has anyone tabulated the cost of illegal immigration to the city?

You forgot the 3000 dead people.