Thread: NY Gov signs pact with Feds

http://www.dnainfo.com/20101231/washing ... grant-pact

Upper Manhattan Officials Laud Governor's Immigrant Pact

By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

INWOOD — Elected officials in Upper Manhattan celebrated Gov. David Paterson’s announcement that he signed a pact with federal officials to work together to deport undocumented convicted criminals, while protecting undocumented immigrants in New York who do not have criminal records.

The agreement strays from the original Department of Homeland Security's Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) "Secure Communities" initiative, which asked police departments to share the fingerprints of people in their custody. The federal department then uses the data to check on the immigration status of those arrested and can begin deportation proceedings if they are found to be in the country without documentation. Paterson said the new agreement would strive to make a distinction between dangerous criminals and undocumented immigrants who receive misdemeanor convictions and "pose no discrete threat to national security."

"While I am very concerned with protecting the civil rights of immigrants, I am equally cognizant of the fact that this State is a prime target for terrorism," Paterson said in a public statement. "This new agreement balances the homeland security and civil liberties issues that have surrounded the Secure Communities initiative." Paterson signed the new agreement on Tuesday, Dec. 28, one of his final acts as governor.

Upper Manhattan officials had protested the federal program earlier this year, warning that the fingerprint sharing program would sets the stage for racial profiling. Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, an opponent of the original proposal, applauded Paterson’s decision, but said more work needs to be done to protect all immigrants.

"There is still strong concern that the new agreement will allow New York State to continue sharing information with the Federal government that could prove to be a serious threat to the immigrant community," he said in a written statement. "This part of the agreement will no doubt discourage aliens from cooperating with local police." State Senator-Elect Adriano Espaillat, currently an assemblyman in the 77nd District, applauded Paterson’s decision.

"A broader, less focused approach where undocumented individuals who had committed a minor violation were reported would be unjust and inconsistent with the spirit of the initiative," Espaillat said via a statement.
"Additionally, reporting undocumented individuals who pose no risk to our country could discourage immigrants from reporting crimes and cooperating with law enforcement, thereby undermining public safety."

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20101231/washing ... z19n8iYEya

Related: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-218513.html

"A broader, less focused approach where undocumented individuals who had committed a minor violation were reported would be unjust and inconsistent with the spirit of the initiative," Espaillat said via a statement.
"Additionally, reporting undocumented individuals who pose no risk to our country could discourage immigrants from reporting crimes and cooperating with law enforcement, thereby undermining public safety."

Who is committing crimes that you claim we need illegal aliens to report and cooperate with law enforcement??!!

And the reason the Federal government is not suing New York for trying to have its own immigration laws is???

Oh, I forgot, the Federal government protects the undocumented Democrats that are voting in our elections illegally and only punishes those that want the laws enforced.