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Q&A
MOIA details ongoing efforts to train city agencies on sanctuary policies and ICE interactions
1:04:00
·
5 min
MOIA officials describe their efforts to train city agencies on sanctuary policies and interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Deputy Commissioner Lorena Lucero outlines the various training initiatives undertaken by MOIA.
- MOIA has conducted training for 13 core agencies, PEU underground staff, and 65 contracted organizations
- Training is ongoing, with some entities receiving multiple rounds to address evolving questions and federal policy changes
- Officials emphasize that city staff should continue to follow existing sanctuary laws and policies, with no changes in effect
Manuel Castro
1:04:00
Our deputy commissioner of programs can can answer help me answer this, But just want to make sure, as I shared in my testimony and I have in my work through our community partners and media, it's important to differentiate between all the many proposals and debate around our sanctuary city laws and policies and what is currently in place, and that has been Moya's work.
1:04:29
And I believe it's important to continue to say that no sanctuary laws or policies have changed.
1:04:35
And, again, to our communities, 's going to be a great amount of debate and perhaps even confusion, misinformation, and so on.
1:04:46
We want to make sure that people know that no laws no sanctuary laws or policies have changed.
1:04:52
And our directive, city agencies and offices continue to be that we follow our sanitary laws and policies, which is what we have been providing training and assistance to our city agencies and offices.
Alexa Avilés
1:05:07
Yeah.
1:05:07
Thank you for that, commissioner.
1:05:08
I we we have been iterating that we have a law.
1:05:12
It is clear.
1:05:13
It is to be followed.
1:05:14
They have not changed.
1:05:15
I think the problem has been with the mayor who doesn't seem to understand that.
Lorena Lucero
1:05:20
And then I wanna clarify my third time's the charm office of civic justice.
1:05:28
Oh.
1:05:29
So it's my Brooklyn and my just just me.
1:05:33
So I'll I'll add See
Alexa Avilés
1:05:35
you in a moment.
1:05:36
You're too young for that.
Lorena Lucero
1:05:39
Thank you for that.
1:05:40
But I'll I'll I'll provide and and I apologize if you if you wanna repeat the question as well, chair.
1:05:46
But in addition to the training that we conducted with the general counsels that the New York City council's attorney general counsel attended, in addition to that we also supported with the training of 13 core agencies that we also mentioned January 16.
1:06:08
In addition to that, we also provided training most recently to PEU and their underground staff.
1:06:18
Also, we provided additional training or training to our 65 contracted organizations who have contracts with the mayor's office of immigrant affairs.
1:06:31
In addition to that, our interim general counsel Rebecca Engel who was here on January 16 continues to be a point of resource for agencies across across the city.
Alexa Avilés
1:06:46
Thank you.
1:06:46
Thank you for that.
1:06:49
When do obviously, we're a big apparatus, you're a giant group of five.
1:06:56
Oh, more than that.
1:06:58
When do you anticipate the city agencies will have had all their training up and down their leadership?
Lorena Lucero
1:07:09
Well, I'm gonna answer that in parts.
1:07:13
One, city leadership has been trained.
1:07:18
In in regards to specifics of all agencies across the city, I would have to get back.
1:07:23
And I know we'll get back to you in in regards to that.
1:07:27
I can say that the 13 core agencies that I'm happy to read out if you'd like have trained their staff as well.
Manuel Castro
1:07:35
And and just to add to that, Chair, the the training will be ongoing.
1:07:41
Some entities have are on their second, even third rounds of of training because there are questions that arise.
1:07:48
And, of course, with the changes in federal policy, there needs to be sort of ongoing assistance.
1:07:54
And that is work that we're very proud of because we began to do this soon after the elections, and we had been preparing prior to the elections.
1:08:06
And, again, this is ongoing, and it's important for us to make ourselves available to clarify any misinformation that exists.
1:08:15
And, again, I want to reiterate this to our city staff.
1:08:20
Nothing has changed.
1:08:21
We are continuing to be directed to follow our sanctuary laws and policies in place.
1:08:26
There should be no confusion about that.
1:08:28
Do understand that our frontline staff have many questions, which our general counsels are available to them to respond to.
1:08:35
But, again, nothing has changed.
Alexa Avilés
1:08:37
So thank you for that, commissioner.
1:08:40
In your shortest possible way, can you articulate for the record the policy that has not changed, that is mandated city workers should be following?
Manuel Castro
1:08:52
I'll let our deputy
Alexa Avilés
1:08:56
Pass in the block.
1:08:57
Go ahead.
Manuel Castro
1:08:57
No.
1:08:57
No.
1:08:57
No.
1:08:58
I mean I mean, if you want, I could.
1:09:00
But there are two clear sanctuary laws in place and two executive orders, those have not changed.
1:09:08
I don't I just don't wanna confuse.
Lorena Lucero
1:09:15
I'm just I think this got this yeah.
1:09:18
You can hear me.
1:09:19
I'm gonna read out the laws that have not changed.
1:09:23
Admin code 10Dash178 local law 228 has not changed.
1:09:29
Executive order 34 has not changed.
1:09:33
Executive order 41 has not changed.
1:09:37
Administrative code 4Dash210 has not changed.
1:09:42
And administrative code 9 Dash 1 30 1 also has not changed.