Issues: Immigration

Senator Ruben Diaz had a immigration rally this past Sunday. Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of New York Catholic Charities represented Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and me. We wrote the following letter in support of Senator Diaz’s rally:

October 2, 2011

Dear Friends:

Although we are not able to be present with you this afternoon because of parish Masses, we express our solidarity with you who have come together in the Bronx to stand with our immigrant sisters and brothers.

New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) greatly appreciates the Catholic Church’s support for his upcoming March for the Dignity of the Immigrants Rally scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 2, 2011 in The Bronx. The March will begin on Westchester Avenue and Third Avenue and proceed to the steps of the Bronx County Courthouse on East 161st Street and the Grand Concourse.

Senator Reverend Diaz stated: “I deeply appreciate the support of the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn for our upcoming March for the Dignity of the Immigrants. I am overjoyed to know that at Sunday’s March we will be standing side by side Catholic clergy and Catholic leaders to promote the dignity of our immigrant families.”

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

28 de Septiembre del 2011

Para Publicacion Inmediata

MILES MARCHARAN A FAVOR DE LOS INMIGRANTES

El Senador Rev. Rubén Diaz informa que miles de personas estarán participando de la primera marcha a favor de los inmigrantes en el Condado del Bronx.

La Marcha denominada “Marcha por la Dignidad del Inmigrante” se llevará a cabo este próximo Domingo 2 de Octubre a las 12:00 pm, comenzando en las Avenidas Westchester y 3ra. En el Condado del Bronx, terminando en las escalinatas de la Corte Suprema en Grand Concourse y 161st Street.

Senator Gustavo Rivera (D,WF-Bronx) and Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Queens) today issued the following statement in response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision to suspend the controversial Secure Communities program:

We are proud to stand with Governor Cuomo today as he announced the suspension of New York's participation in Secure Communities, a controversial partnership between immigration officials and local law enforcement that has come under scrutiny at a national level for straying from its intended purpose of deporting dangerous criminal immigrants. While Secure Communities is intended to focus on the deportation of dangerous criminal immigrants, 79% of those deported nationwide under this program had no criminal record.

"Common sense and reason have prevailed and we can thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for that," said State Senator Jose R. Peralta, long an outspoken critic of the Secure Communities program.  "The Secure Communities program was tearing families apart.  It was supposed to focus on dangerous criminals, but the vast majority of those deported through the program were hardworking immigrants with no criminal record.  Immigrant communities simply became even more fearful of law enforcement, worried about arrests and deportations.  The program became a disincentive to reporting crimes and cooperating with law enforcement, endangering community safety.   "Many, many thanks to Governor Cuomo."