Some local dissent toward a bill that limits New York cooperation with federal law enforcement continued even as Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed it into law on Nov. 22.
The Juniper Parks Civic Association sent representatives to chastise the mayor during the public hearing before his signing of Int. 656-A, which prohibits Rikers Island from holding inmates extra time for federal authorities to deport.
“It just felt good telling the mayor,” said JCPA President, Robert Holden, who brought four other member of the civic group to speak against the bill with him. “We had more speakers against the bill than who spoke in favor of it.”
As he previously indicated he would, Mayor Bloomberg signed the bill that had overwhelming support in the City Council and from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Holden and the JPCA are not backing down after the signing. Since before the council voted on the bill on Nov. 3, they have howled about public safety concerns, saying any illegal immigrant picked up should be deported.
They are starting to attack the law at the federal level. Holden is pursuing congressmen Bob Turner and Peter King in his efforts.
“This is far from over. We already spoke to Homeland Security, Congressman Turner and Peter King are working on it. There may be something they can do on the federal level to overturn this,” Holden said.
Turner is a member of the congressional Homeland Security Committee, which King chair
“If the city is going to do this they have to be aware that they’re sacrificing homeland security funds,” Holden said.
However, neither King nor Turner has spoken out about any consequences for New York.
Turner previously told The Forum Int. 656-A is, “A very poorly thought-out piece of legislation,” but he also praised the NYPD’s handling of counter-terrorism and advocated sending them more funding.
The legislation prohibits New York’s Department of Corrections from holding certain illegal immigrants past their sentenced time for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to collect and deport.
If the NYPD arrests an illegal immigrant who is not a criminal defendant, has not been convicted of a crime, has no outstanding warrants, and is not identified as a known gang member or found on the national terrorist watch list, they are free to go once the DOC finishes its own processing without notification to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The bill passed the city council with 40 sponsors, including Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Maspeth, Middle Village) who previously argued the bill hands fiscal responsibility back to Washington.
Crowley, who chairs the Fire and Criminal Justice Committee, said it costs up to $300 a day to hold an inmate at Rikers Island, and it could have cost the DOC more than $20 million to hold illegal immigrants for ICE.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
Photo Courtesy of Robert Holden
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
