Testimony before the New York City Council in support of legislation to further limit the constitutional violations arising from current detainer practices between the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Correction and the New York Police Department

SUMMARY

The Committees on Immigration and Nationality Law, Criminal Courts, Criminal Justice Operations, and Corrections and Community Reentry provided joint written testimony to the New York City Council in support of Int. 0486-2014 and Int. 0487-2014,which would limit the constitutional violations arising from current detainer practices by limiting the City’s practice of responding to non-binding requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold individuals in the City jail system for immigration investigations. These bills, the testimony maintains, would improve the NYPD’s ability to keep all New Yorkers safe by building trust between police and immigrant communities, while relieving the City of potential liability and of detention costs that will not be reimbursed by the federal government. The committees also recommended that the Council consider several additional steps, including adopting a clear rule that the NYPD and Department of Corrections not accept any ICE detainers.

HEARING INFORMATION 

Committee on Immigration Hearing, October 15, 2014 (Hearing details & video)

BILL INFORMATION

Int. 0486-2014 and Int. 0487-2014 – expanding upon below referenced legislation to further limit New York City’s compliance with ICE detainers.

OUTCOME

Both bills signed into law by the Mayor – November 14, 2014