Q&A
Training of city employees on immigration enforcement policies
1:13:05
ยท
4 min
Council Member Shahana K. Hanif inquires about the training of city employees regarding their obligations not to use resources for immigration enforcement. MOIA representatives explain the ongoing training efforts and plans.
- MOIA has conducted trainings for general counsels across the city
- A subset of agencies with high probability of interacting with immigrant New Yorkers are targeted for staff training
- Training focuses on frontline employees who interact with immigrant communities
- MOIA emphasizes that all city staff are expected to understand and follow local laws, including those related to interacting with immigrant communities
Shahana K. Hanif
1:13:05
And are city employees trained on their obligation to not use resources for, immigration enforcement?
1:13:13
Is there a single citywide training, or is it done at the agency or department level?
Lorena Lucero
1:13:19
I I can start that.
1:13:22
A series of trainings, have been rolled out.
1:13:27
We, with, close coordination with the law department and their support, have trained general counsels from across the city.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:13:39
So not yet city employees?
Lorena Lucero
1:13:41
However, in that meeting, in addition to that, we were all we're also targeting a sub set of agencies that we know have a high probability of interacting with, with immigrant New Yorkers.
1:13:56
That subset, will be training their staff.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:13:58
You said subset?
1:13:59
Which are those agencies?
Lorena Lucero
1:14:01
Happy to to give you some of the agencies.
1:14:04
It's gonna include the Department of the Age Aging, Owasso, ACS, Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Homeless Services, HPD, mayor's office of Housing Recovery Operation, Human Resources Administration, Emergency Management, Department of Youth and Community Development, and Health and Hospitals.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:14:29
Thank you for that.
1:14:30
And and so you're saying that a subset of agencies will receive training, but does that include all of the employees in these agencies?
Lorena Lucero
1:14:40
It's gonna include employees who are, particularly our frontline employees who interact with immigrant, communities.
UNKNOWN
1:14:50
And why are
Shahana K. Hanif
1:14:50
you leaving out the others?
Lorena Lucero
1:14:53
Well, it's a lot there's lots of agencies, and we're sort of triaging to prioritize those that we know, high high volume touch points with immigrant New Yorkers.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:15:03
And when is that when's the most recent set of trainings going to take place?
Lorena Lucero
1:15:08
Oh, we've been a busy office.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:15:11
I think When was the
Aracelis Lucero
1:15:12
the last one was
Lorena Lucero
1:15:13
the most Monday?
1:15:14
Tuesday?
1:15:15
Tuesday.
1:15:16
I don't even know what day I meant.
1:15:17
Yeah.
1:15:17
Tuesday.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:15:18
Tuesday.
1:15:18
Yes.
1:15:18
Well, it's Thursday.
1:15:21
Okay.
1:15:21
So and you're you said that they're happening at a a frequency that is, like, pretty regular.
Lorena Lucero
1:15:27
Yeah.
1:15:28
We're building that out.
1:15:30
But, we're hoping to sort of do some of the again, just to to go back a bit, council member, we did target general counsels primarily.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:15:42
So the general counsel already been trained.
1:15:44
Okay.
1:15:44
So then what happened on Tuesday?
Lorena Lucero
1:15:46
So on Tuesday, we, targeted a subset.
1:15:49
Those are the 12 that I outlined to you.
1:15:52
This is sort of an additional, training that was being provided to these specific agencies that I that I outlined for you as well.
1:16:00
And we're working with agencies to sort of build out, next steps as they sort of train their own staff as well.
1:16:07
Understood.
Manuel Castro
1:16:08
Can I just, add and emphasize that all of our city staff have an expectation to understand and follow local laws, including laws with respect to interacting with our immigrant communities, and understand issues such as data collection and privacy matters and so forth?
1:16:28
So the training should be a refresher.
1:16:33
You know, we mentioned that we train general counsel.
1:16:36
General counsel are responsible for ensuring that their internal policies and procedures aligned with local laws.
1:16:46
So that's why it's important for us to have taken that step.
1:16:49
We've also trained the members of the interagency task force, which, again, they're liaisons from all city agencies and offices.
1:16:58
They are the subject matter experts on immigration and how those that relates to their agencies.
1:17:05
Now the general counsel and and others within those agencies are supposed to tailor training to others within the agencies.
1:17:13
Again, we're talking about tens of thousands of people.
1:17:16
And, this is all to say that this work has been important for us to start with, but our work is ongoing.
1:17:23
And we are partnering with the city's law department to make sure that not only are we providing training, but also ongoing assistance to whoever needs additional answers.