Today, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law two pieces of legislation that will prevent thousands of immigrant families from being torn apart by deportation. These new laws – Local Laws X and Y– stop federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using the New York Police Department (NYPD) and Department of Corrections (DOC) to deport thousands of New Yorkers.  

Today’s victory builds on legislation enacted in 2011 and on years of advocacy by our partners, Make the Road New York, the Cardozo Immigrant Justice Clinic and others, to fight back against an increasingly punitive immigration enforcement regime at the federal level. 

This victory also comes at a critical time, as the national policy debate is focused on the possibility of providing citizenship to millions of immigrant families. With these laws, New York City sends lawmakers in Washington a clear message that hundreds of thousands of deportations a year are bad for cities and bad for communities, and that justice requires a focus on family unity. 

Thanks to the courageous leadership of New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, the bills’ sponsors, and to supporters like you, New York City continues to be a national leader in promoting equity and inclusion for immigrant communities and working families.