New York Mayor Election: All Candidates Promise Illegal Immigrants Increased Protection

Each of the eight Democratic candidates running for mayor of New York has pledged to protect illegal immigrants from deportation. Thus, they will strengthen the status of New York as a "city of refuge", although this often plays a cruel joke with the city. This topic surfaced during the second debate of the candidates for the post of the head of the city. The edition told in more detail New York Post.

All candidates supported the position of the current mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, who forbade local authorities to transfer any information about the immigration status of residents of the city to the federal authorities, even if the person was detained or convicted of a crime.

“We have to be a real city of refuge. We must live in accordance with our values, that is, invest in all families living in the city, regardless of whether they have immigration documents, ”said former Commissioner for Sanitation and now candidate for mayor Catherine Garcia.

In support of her words, she stressed that during the pandemic, she worked to provide free food to needy New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status.

On the subject: Immigrants in New York: how many are there, who they are and what they do

“We are a city of refuge. It's about respect, dignity, support, about those who sacrificed themselves for the sake of this city by doing their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, "explained former Citigroup CEO Ray McGuire and stressed that most illegal immigrants work in those areas that important to the city's livelihoods, so they continued to work at increased risk during the pandemic.

Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Andrew Young said, "I appreciate everyone who comes to this country or New York in search of a better life." Young is the son of Taiwanese immigrants.

Brooklyn President Eric Adams recalled that immigrants were his neighbors in Queens, where he spent his childhood:

“My mother worked two jobs to provide for her six children, and people with no legal immigration status lived next to us.”

Other candidates - City Controller Scott Stringer, former head of the US Department of Housing Sean Donovan, and nonprofit leader Diane Morales - also support New York's status as a city of refuge.

Republican nominees and independent candidates are also taking part in the race for the mayor's seat. However, given that the vast majority of the city's voters are registered Democrats, the winner of the June 22 Democratic primaries is likely to become the next mayor.

Read all about the mayoral election of New York in our special project.