Printer Friendly Format Share


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 421-11
November 22, 2011

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION REGARDING DETAINER REQUESTS MADE BY U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The first of two bills before me today is Introductory Number 656-A, sponsored by Speaker Quinn and Council Members Mark-Viverito, Dromm, Foster, Brewer, Chin, Jackson, Koslowitz, Lappin, Mendez, Palma, Rodriguez, Rose, Barron, Gonzalez, Ferreras, Levin, Comrie, Vann, Cabrera, Dickens, Arroyo, James, Van Bramer, Eugene, Reyna, Seabrook, Sanders, Rivera, Crowley, Koppell, Williams, Lander, Garodnick, Wills, Mealy, Vacca, Weprin, Gennaro and Koo. Introductory Number 656-A will, in certain circumstances, limit the Department of Correction from honoring detainer requests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security to hold specific inmates beyond their court-mandated time in Department custody. 

"New York is a city of immigrants, and it is impossible to overstate the role immigrants play in our City's economy, culture, and civic vitality.  As such, my Administration has gone to great lengths to ensure that immigrants have the opportunity to thrive here in the five boroughs.  In keeping with those efforts, Introductory Number 656-A strikes the right balance - protecting public safety for all New Yorkers while ensuring that individuals who have no record of criminal history or pending cases and who have no other record of being a threat to the community are released from Department of Correction custody at the conclusion of their case.

"I would like to thank Chief Policy Advisor John Feinblatt, Correction Commissioner Dora Schriro, and the hardworking staff in both of their offices for their work on this legislation along with Evan Hochberg from the Law Department and my Office of City Legislative Affairs.  The bill I will sign in just a few moments is the result of great collaboration between my Administration and the Council, and I would like to thank the Speaker and the Council for their efforts - and also for approving this legislation."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958



STAY CONNECTED

TwitterTwitter   TwitterYouTube   FlickrFlickr
More Resources