NEW YORK, USA (CMC) — The Council of the City of New York has passed a bill that will prohibit the New York Police Department (NYPD) from turning over Caribbean and other immigrants charged with low-level crimes to US federal authorities.
"When your fingerprints are taken at arrest, you're charged. You're not guilty," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn, following the passage of the bill by a vote of 40-7.
"Immigrants without criminal records and those who do not through any legitimate evidence appear to pose a threat to public safety are being needlessly deported, unnecessarily damaging families and communities, unnecessarily tearing communities apart," she added.