Serrano Bill Would Make New York America’s First Sanctuary State
Proposed legislation to expand and extend reach of New York City’s Executive Order 41
Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:25:00
New York already has 10 sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants. Now State Sen. José Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx) wants to extend these laws’ reach and make all of New York a sanctuary state.
Serrano has introduced a bill that would make it illegal for state employees to disclose the status of any illegal immigrants they encounter while on duty. The bill, modeled on New York City’s Executive Order 41, would make New York the first sanctuary state in the nation.
A study last summer by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) found that illegal immigrants—of whom there are an estimated 1.1 million in New York currently—could cost New York State alone $9 billion by 2020. This cost would be for providing emergency housing, education and medical care, but does not include potential costs involved with trying and incarcerating any illegal immigrants who commit crimes.
Serrano does not expect the bill to pass. But immigration reform is a necessity for the more than 300,000 foreign-born residents in his Senate district who travel to parts of New York State that lack sanctuary laws, Serrano said.
“These people came here to create opportunities for their children,” Serrano said. “And they risk being deported every time they leave New York City.”
Currently, 130 American cities have sanctuary laws. Advocates argue that these increase reports of violent crimes among illegal immigrants and help them gain access to emergency care.
New York City’s version—which was ratified by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2003, but was originally proposed by Mayor Ed Koch (D) and allowed to continue under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R)—allows anyone, even those in the country illegally, to report crimes or seek medical care without fear of facing deportation.
In addition to widening the geographical scope of the sanctuary laws, Serrano’s bill makes an important change by making its provisions active, rather than passive. New York City’s Executive Order 41 states that police officers, fire fighters and medical professionals do not need to disclose confidential information to any state or local authority without that person’s permission, unless that information is necessary for a criminal investigation. Serrano’s sanctuary state bill makes disclosure by state employees illegal and imposes a fine on state agencies which employ violators.
Assembly Member José Peralta (D-Queens), a supporter of Serrano’s bill, said he believes Senate Republicans will block the legislation.
“They have an agenda and they’re going to fight,” he said.
New York City is just one of the state’s 10 sanctuary cities. The rest—Bayshore, Central Islip, Riverhead, Shirly and Mastic, Brentwood, Farmingville, Westbury, Spring Valley and Uniondale—are all on Long Island, and all within the Senate districts of Caesar Trunzo (R), Kenneth LaValle (R), John Flanagan (R), Thomas Morahan (R), Carl Marcellino (R), Kemp Hannon (R) and Owen Johnson (R).
Though he acknowledges that his bill may help some illegal immigrants, Serrano insists that he does not support illegal immigration. In his view, the bill simply enables illegal immigrants to approach police and city workers whom they usually view with suspicion. And he says that ultimately, a sanctuary law could encourage illegal immigrants to come out of the shadows.
“Illegal immigrants are more likely to pursue a path to citizenship if they know that they can talk to someone in authority,” Serrano said. “It’s more likely that they will do that if they aren’t afraid of being deported.”
Serrano has introduced a bill that would make it illegal for state employees to disclose the status of any illegal immigrants they encounter while on duty. The bill, modeled on New York City’s Executive Order 41, would make New York the first sanctuary state in the nation.
A study last summer by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) found that illegal immigrants—of whom there are an estimated 1.1 million in New York currently—could cost New York State alone $9 billion by 2020. This cost would be for providing emergency housing, education and medical care, but does not include potential costs involved with trying and incarcerating any illegal immigrants who commit crimes.
Serrano does not expect the bill to pass. But immigration reform is a necessity for the more than 300,000 foreign-born residents in his Senate district who travel to parts of New York State that lack sanctuary laws, Serrano said.
“These people came here to create opportunities for their children,” Serrano said. “And they risk being deported every time they leave New York City.”
Currently, 130 American cities have sanctuary laws. Advocates argue that these increase reports of violent crimes among illegal immigrants and help them gain access to emergency care.
New York City’s version—which was ratified by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2003, but was originally proposed by Mayor Ed Koch (D) and allowed to continue under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R)—allows anyone, even those in the country illegally, to report crimes or seek medical care without fear of facing deportation.
In addition to widening the geographical scope of the sanctuary laws, Serrano’s bill makes an important change by making its provisions active, rather than passive. New York City’s Executive Order 41 states that police officers, fire fighters and medical professionals do not need to disclose confidential information to any state or local authority without that person’s permission, unless that information is necessary for a criminal investigation. Serrano’s sanctuary state bill makes disclosure by state employees illegal and imposes a fine on state agencies which employ violators.
Assembly Member José Peralta (D-Queens), a supporter of Serrano’s bill, said he believes Senate Republicans will block the legislation.
“They have an agenda and they’re going to fight,” he said.
New York City is just one of the state’s 10 sanctuary cities. The rest—Bayshore, Central Islip, Riverhead, Shirly and Mastic, Brentwood, Farmingville, Westbury, Spring Valley and Uniondale—are all on Long Island, and all within the Senate districts of Caesar Trunzo (R), Kenneth LaValle (R), John Flanagan (R), Thomas Morahan (R), Carl Marcellino (R), Kemp Hannon (R) and Owen Johnson (R).
Though he acknowledges that his bill may help some illegal immigrants, Serrano insists that he does not support illegal immigration. In his view, the bill simply enables illegal immigrants to approach police and city workers whom they usually view with suspicion. And he says that ultimately, a sanctuary law could encourage illegal immigrants to come out of the shadows.
“Illegal immigrants are more likely to pursue a path to citizenship if they know that they can talk to someone in authority,” Serrano said. “It’s more likely that they will do that if they aren’t afraid of being deported.”
