"North Country residents believe our civil liberties matter. We’ve seen and understand changes that have been made in enforcement at and near our border crossings in recent years," she said.
"We all understand the importance of security in today's world, but we’ve never lost sight of the principles spelled out on the Statue of Liberty. My vote today wasn't just to protect immigrants. It was to protect everyone living in this country, regardless of background or belief.”
The first measure prevents state or local agencies from assisting in the creation of any registry based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or national origin (A.4884).
"We want all New Yorkers to be able to report crimes to law enforcement, not to have victims silenced by concerns about the impact reaching out to law enforcement will have on their employment, their families and their ability to remain in this country. This legislation will provide that security to some of our most vulnerable citizens," she said.
“It's not uncommon for people here in the North Country to travel back and forth across the border. Any measures that target people for who they are don’t make us safer. Instead, they simply make us more fearful," according to Assemblywoman Jenne.
She pointed to the valuable role immigrants played in digging out the power canal and growing the Alcoa plant in Massena that has served as an economic engine in the North Country for over a generation.
"Today, immigrants are playing important roles in providing quality health care in our communities, performing important research at our colleges and universities, helping to maintain our role as one of the leading agricultural counties in the state and working in our tourism industry in the North Country. We want immigrants to enroll at our colleges, become part of the medical staffs at our hospitals and visit our tourist destinations. Immigrants have been and continue to be entrepreneurs creating jobs in the North Country. They are a vital part of our communities and our economy,” she said.
Another bill prohibits state and local agencies from inquiring about the immigration status of a person seeking assistance, benefits or services if that information is not relevant (A.3049-B).
It also enacts protections for individuals from being detained or arrested solely on the basis of perceived immigrant status and establishes the right to counsel in immigration proceedings.
“Our country and community have grown and prospered because we are a land of immigrants who value freedom and equality above all. We need to remain vigilant, but we can't lose sight of the basic principles that have been around since the founding of our country," Assemblywoman Jenne said.