Letter to the Editor:
New York has always been a beacon when it comes to fairness, dignity, and opportunity. Now, it must live up to that promise by protecting immigrant communities and ending the collusion between New York state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities (ICE). Our Senate and Assembly must vote for the New York for All Act (NY4All) and Governor Kathy Hochul must sign it into law now.
New York for All would ensure that state resources are used to meet the needs of New Yorkers, not carry out a federal immigration agenda. NY4All would keep personal information from ICE, and restrict ICE access to non-public areas of all government-run locations as well as sensitive locations like schools and public hospitals without a judicial warrant. NY4All would ensure that our communities remain strong, safe, and that we continue to follow the rule of law.
It is New York State’s responsibility to follow the rule of law.
Collusion between our local and state law enforcement and ICE does the opposite. ICE’s presence in our communities has brought lawlessness and fear and has fostered distrust of law enforcement and made it less likely that immigrant communities would cooperate with law enforcement. Immigrants are now more likely to become victims of crimes and less likely to report one or cooperate as a victim or a witness, a problem that makes everyone less safe. This vital legislation will help to restore trust in public institutions, preventing police, probation, and school officials from asking about or reporting immigration status, a practice that is too often based on racial profiling.
It is New York State’s responsibility to keep its residents safe.
Governor Hochul’s “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” does not go far enough. The protections our communities require should not come with an expiration date, and we need New York for All, the gold standard that prevents collusion in all cases, not only when the jurisdiction has a formal 287(g) agreement in place.
New York for All is a key piece of legislation that will help preserve local resources for the pressing needs confronting New Yorkers, ensuring taxpayer funds serve our communities and make us stronger.
It is New York State’s responsibility to maintain public order, and protect its residents against threats!
Other states such as Maryland, Maine, California, and New Mexico have already taken this stand.
It’s time for New York to do the same and to protect all our residents, and by doing so to enforce and strengthen the rule of law. I urge Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie to bring the bill to the floor for a vote with no further delay, for both chambers to pass it, and for Governor Hochul to sign it into law.
Mark A. Lieberman, Yorktown, NY
