October 8, 2014
By Stephanie West
New York, NY – Teamsters Joint Council 16 President George Miranda has announced his union’s support of legislation introduced by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. The Speaker’s bill would prevent the Department of Corrections from assisting the federal government with immigration enforcement and deportations, unless a warrant is issued by a federal judge.
“When you move to New York, you become a New Yorker, you become one of us,” said Teamsters Joint Council 16 President George Miranda. “Our members come from all over the world to make a home here, raise their families, and be part of the American Dream. It doesn’t matter where you were born. Our City government should not be in the business of breaking up families and deporting workers without due process.”
“Speaker Mark-Viverito has been a leader on this issue for years and this announcement is the next big step in fulfilling the promise of our immigrant city. I hope council members have the courage to stand up for our most vulnerable residents and make this legislation law. The New York City Teamsters stand behind you.”
*** Teamsters Joint Council 16 represents 120,000 workers across Downstate New York.
