Posted on 10/17/2003 7:51:44 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel
The Street administration has told city workers not to report "mere undocumented aliens" to federal agents or deny immigrants any services such as health care or education.
City Solicitor Nelson A. Diaz, in a memorandum dated Oct. 10, puts Philadelphia among a handful of cities - including New York - that formally refuse to help the federal government pursue ordinary illegal immigrants.
"Individuals should know that they may seek and obtain the assistance of city agencies... without negative consequences to their personal lives," Diaz said in the memo released by immigrant advocates yesterday.
Diaz, the city's chief lawyer, wrote that he wanted to "clarify" employee duties. Advocates called his memo a "pronouncement," not a policy change.
The federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Philadelphia said it was not told of the memo but saw no problem with it.
"It hasn't hindered our enforcement activity," said Lance Payne, a spokesman.
Immigration critics ridiculed the memo as "part of a nationwide push for de facto illegal alien amnesty that nobody voted on," said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Immigration Studies.
But Matthew I. Hirsh, regional chairman of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the goal was getting services for eligible residents and making the shrinking city more welcoming to immigrants.
"It doesn't make any service available that wasn't available before," Hirsh said. "It's just... telling people that if you have a problem with a landlord, if you're a victim of a crime, if you have a problem with your water bill, that you can walk into a city office and get services regardless of your immigration status."
The memorandum was not prompted by a particular problem involving services, Hirsh said. The group simply urged Diaz last month to clarify city policy, and he agreed to do so.
Diaz did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Addressed to commissioners and department heads, the memorandum states: "No person shall be denied any city services or benefits by reason of his or her immigration status."
The memo says information about immigration status is "confidential," on a par with information about a resident's taxes, medical condition, sexual orientation, or crime-victim status.
It states that city employees "must not inquire about a person's immigration status" unless this knowledge is necessary to enable the person to perform a job or to fulfill requirements for benefits, such as welfare payments.
A city employee may disclose information about immigration status to others, including law enforcement, only if the immigrant "is suspected of engaging in illegal activity, other than mere status as an undocumented alien... or if such disclosure is necessary in the furtherance of an investigation of potential terrorist activity."
The memo does not detail the criteria for such suspicions.
It reaffirms the Police Department's existing guideline that officers "shall not inquire about a person's immigration status unless investigating illegal activity." It says police must cooperate with federal agents "in investigating and apprehending aliens suspected of criminal activity."
Under federal law, criminal activity does not include overstaying an immigrant visa or working without authorization. Those are considered "administrative law" violations.
Nationwide, there are an estimated eight million illegal immigrants, including more than 250,000 in the Philadelphia region.
The memo states that city workers may accept as identification "a valid passport" or "photo consular identification," such as Mexico's controversial matriculas consulares cards, used heavily by illegal immigrants. Workers also must verify city residence.
Advocates complain that workers at city health clinics, for example, sometimes demand a Social Security number before scheduling an appointment, even though a number actually is not required from immigrants who may lack one, said Monica Medina, a counselor at the Chinatown Free Clinic, run by Drexel University.
"A lot of our patients don't bother anymore going to city clinics," Medina said. "I understand that they're under-resourced... . But the policy should be consistent."
Judi Bernstein-Baker, executive director of HIAS and Council, an immigrant-service group, said the memo "will make the city appear more friendly to immigrants."
Immigration critics said Diaz had put Philadelphia among "sanctuary cities" with formal policies barring or discouraging employees from divulging information about illegal immigrants. Others include Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, said Craig Nelsen, director of Friends of Immigration Law Enforcement, a nonprofit group that supports tough enforcement of immigration laws.
Since the Feds have no problem withholding Highway funds unless states unless the blood alcohol level is incrementally lowered again and again, I'm sure they'll be quick to withhold all federal funds until cities like Philadelphia, New York etc comply with established federal laws and cooperate in their enforcement... unless W. is complicit in this "open the borders in a transparent attempt to toady up to the hispanic vote", right?
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
The LEGAL Hispanics who I've talked to very much resent being grouped with the ILLEGAL Hispanics.
The part that costs them the ability to have illegals (and, for that matter, dead people) voting for the Philly Democratic machine...
This doesn't mean that we can't have a sensible immigration policy -- Hispanic voters don't oppose that. It does mean that our policies shouldn't be driven by racial rhetoric, and our policies and rhetoric should have some manner of compassion for people who cross deserts on foot for the privilege of working our hardest and lowest-paid jobs.
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Good work out of you Doug From Upland!
I wish I was a city employee.
Owl_Eagle
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
I mean, states rights and all, huh?
Of course, these illegals will eventually be applying for some kind of federal assistance which WILL come out of your pocket. But, Philadelphia says screw you.
You have nailed it!!!
Of course, these illegals will eventually be applying for some kind of federal assistance which WILL come out of your pocket. But, Philadelphia says screw you.
Eventually?
Maybe we can have the border patrol help them fill out welfare applications at those fancy "illegal border crossing rest stations"
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
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