Amid national debate over immigration, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sept. 15 issued an executive order barring state agencies and state police from asking about an individual’s immigration status.
Under the executive order, state agencies will be prohibited from asking about immigration status unless it’s required by law or necessary to determine eligibility for a benefit, the governor’s office said in a news release. The executive order also prohibits law enforcement officials from asking about immigration status unless they are investigating illegal criminal activity. “As Washington squabbles over rolling back sensible immigration policy, we are taking action to help protect all New Yorkers from unwarranted targeting by government,” Cuomo said in a statement. “New York became the Empire State due to the contributions of immigrants from every corner of the globe and we will not let the politics of fear and intimidation divide us.”
