What's happening
This bill prohibits New York law enforcement and peace officers from inquiring about a victim's or witness's immigration status, except when necessary for investigating a crime.
Why it matters
Encourages victims and witnesses to report crimes. without fear that their immigration status will be questioned or used against them, which can lead to more crimes being reported and solved.
Limits law enforcement discretion. by making it clear that officers can only ask about immigration status if it is directly relevant to investigating the crime, reducing the risk of profiling or unnecessary immigration checks.
Protects vulnerable communities. by reducing the likelihood that immigrants will avoid law enforcement due to fear of deportation or other immigration consequences, thereby fostering greater trust between those communities and police.
Standardizes police practices statewide. regarding immigration inquiries, which can help prevent inconsistent or discriminatory treatment of victims and witnesses based on where they live in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Immigrant Crime Victims
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Victims from Immigration Questions
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4438
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting law enforcement officers and peace officers from inquiring about the immigration status of a victim or witness to a criminal offense
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-t to read as follows:
§ 837-t. Prohibitions on law enforcement officers and peace officers. 1. A law enforcement officer or a peace officer may not inquire as to the immigration status of a victim of or witness to a criminal offense except as necessary to investigate the offense.
2. For the purposes of this section "law enforcement officer" means a state or local police officer and "peace officer" means any person designated as a peace officer pursuant to section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06273-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.