Albany Dems’ ploy to slash deports
Shave prison terms
The Democratic-led state Assembly is trying to prevent the feds from deporting undocumented immigrants arrested on misdemeanor charges by reducing the maximum jail time for those charges by a single day — from 365 to 364 days.
“By making this small change in New York law, thousands of immigrants could be potentially spared from deportation under federal law over certain lesser offenses,” Speaker Carl Heastie (DBronx) said.
“Some misdemeanor offenses can result in automatic deportation because of New York state’s current sentencing standards, a harsh mandatory consequence for misdemeanor conviction.”
The measure, which would also give judges leeway to determine whether or not deportation is appropriate, faces opposition in the GOP-controlled state Senate.
Under current federal requirements, after a prisoner is held for a full year, the state has to notify immigration authorities, and a retainer is put on to deport them. This would not be the case, though, for people held 364 days.
Republicans denounced the end-run around federal rules.
“It’s unconscionable that the Assembly would look to protect individuals who are not only here illegally but also have committed crimes, serious crimes, instead of securing the safety of the citizens who elected them,” Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-SI) said.
The Assembly is also looking to extend New York City laws throughout the state to limit those who can be held on federal immigration warrants.
Another bill would keep information on New York City municipal ID card applications confidential.
The Assembly also passed the socalled Liberty Act.
That bill would protect crime victims and witnesses from being questioned about their immigration status, and require employers to keep the status of their employees confidential.
The bill would also limit the use of state and local facilities for immigration enforcement, and makes legal representation a right for those facing deportation.