NEW YORK CITY AND INS REACH AGREEMENT ON
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR 58 MEXICAN NATIONALS
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Doris M. Meissner, Commissioner of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), announced today that INS and the City of New York have reached a joint agreement that will allow the continuation of all social services to the 58 Mexican nationals being housed in a Queens motel.
Also on hand for today's announcement were Zachary W. Carter, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Richard A. Brown, District Attorney for Queens County, Richard Berryman, Acting New York District Director for the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, and New York City Police Commissioner Howard Safir.
Under the joint agreement, INS will assume custody of the Mexican immigrants and their children and will afford them full access to City and State officials. The Mexican nationals will continue to receive medical treatment and legal services. To enable full coordination of the criminal investigation into the alleged smuggling, harboring and coercion of the Mexican nationals, it is anticipated that the 58 men, women and children will remain in the New York City metropolitan area.
"All New Yorkers were deeply touched this week by the terrible plight that the immigrant Mexican families suffered at the hands of a despicable criminal band of exploiters and abusers," Mayor Giuliani said. "We should embrace these families -- almost all of whom are deaf -- and do everything we can to alleviate the suffering they have endured and ensure that their future holds the promise of safety and security. This agreement will ensure the continuation of critical health, housing and social services -- giving the immigrants some measure of stability in their lives."
INS Commissioner Doris M. Meissner said, "This cooperative agreement with the City of New York addresses the essential issue of caring for the critical needs of the disabled smuggling victims and allows both the City and the INS to aggressively pursue the criminal investigations"
The City will share the cost with the federal government for the next month as the case is investigated and until a final determination has been made.
This agreement was reached pursuant to discussions between Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Meissner. The specific details of the agreement were finalized between Commissioner Safir and District Director Berryman.
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