Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Hosts Advocates, Elected Leaders, Labor Activists and Community Members at City Hall to Denounce Supreme Court Decision on Immigration Executive Action and Call for National Immigration Reform

June 23, 2016

Video available at: https://youtu.be/GL4dVEUsg9Q

Raul Contreras, Assistant Press Secretary: Good afternoon. My name is Raul Contreras, and I’m a proud immigrant New Yorker. I was just a few months old when my family came to the U.S. from Chile. My mother worked as a housecleaner, and my dad worked in catering and with a limousine service. It wasn’t always easy, but my parents strived to give my sister and I a small slice of the American dream. I was excited to go to college like my sister. But without work authorization, I knew I wouldn’t be able to pursue my professional dreams.

Then something amazing happened. On June 15, 2012, President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, went into effect. Because of DACA, I was able to find a paying, part-time job and internships, including one with the Mayor’s Office. That internship opened up more doors. And today, I’m proud to work right here in this building and serve my fellow New Yorkers. I thank God every day I had DACA.

Unfortunately because of the Supreme Court’s ruling today, so many people will not get the same chance I had. But I know a man who will keep on fighting for the rights of immigrants in New York and all over our country. He is the grandson of immigrants himself – my boss – and the Mayor of New York City.

A few words in Spanish.

[Raul Contreras speaks in Spanish.]

[Applause]

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you very much. Well done. Raul, thank you. I really want to commend you for telling your story, for being an example of what this country and this city are about and are supposed to be about under our laws. And we want to thank you for being such a wonderful member of our team as well. Let’s thank Raul, everyone.

[Applause]

And I am so proud to stand beside Raul, and wonderful fellow New Yorkers here with us – Mouhamed, and Hina, and AJ, and Ivy, and Fatima, and Magdalena – all examples of what we’re here to talk about, all young people who just wanted to be a part of this society, to live out the same hopes and dreams as everyone else, to contribute to the greatness of New York City and America. They’re all standing here, and I share with them a sense of profound disappointment and, in fact, anger at the decision by the Supreme Court, because, with the stroke of a pen, the hopes of millions have been dashed. So many people who are just trying to achieve what so many of us have come to expect, have now seen that taken away from them. 

These individuals around me are living proof of the good that DACA and DAPA did for people. Families that had to live in fear and doubt, having their problems resolved, their hopes affirmed – that’s what it’s supposed to be about. And the notion that now a road block has been thrown up by our own Supreme Court – it’s a shocking day and a sad day for all immigrants in this country, and it feels like a step away from our values. 

President Obama did the right thing for this nation and we are resolved today to be inspired by his actions, to not be deterred, to [inaudible] for comprehensive immigration reform. There is a way to recapture the high ground and get the momentum back, and that’s to push with all we have in the next Congress and with a new President for comprehensive immigration reform. And in that process, we will remind Americans that it was the Republican party that stood in the way of all previous efforts at reform, has stood in the way of our opportunity to create a more perfect union, and they will be held accountable starting next year, because I think there’s a growing consensus in this country about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. 

What does it mean for New York City? 220,000 New Yorkers would have immediately benefited had President Obama’s executive action been affirmed. So, it’s almost a quarter-million of our fellow New Yorkers who are hurting right now, whose rights and opportunities were taken away by our Supreme Court. And, again, it’s an affront to our values, but we don’t just get mad, we organize. We’re going to work together – everyone here – to right this wrong.

And I want to thank everyone who’s here. I want to thank Deputy Mayor Richard Buery; and Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Nisha Agarwal; Commissioner for Social Services Steve Banks; Commissioner for Veterans Services Loree Sutton. I want to thank Senator Adriano Espaillat. I want to thank Chair Carlos Menchaca, of the Council Committee on Immigration; Councilman Ben Kallos; Councilman Dan Garodnick. I think others will be joining – and all the advocates, all the faith leaders, all the community organizations who are part of this gathering today. Also, a thank you to Deputy Mayor Herminia Palacio and Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez. 

We’re here, and we’re here on short notice, because it means so much to all of us. We’re all convinced that a major mistake was made by our Supreme Court. By the way, one of the things that makes this clear to me is – I’ve worked with mayors all over the country. We had over 100 mayors sign onto the amicus brief in favor of the executive action because the leaders in every part of this country who know their communities best, knew the executive action would help our people. Well, we will continue in that effort. And, in the meantime, the City of New York will offer support and services to our immigrant brothers and sisters, the our fellow New Yorkers. We will not be in any way forced off that path. We believe in this city, in things like providing legal services so families don’t get torn apart. We believe in IDNYC, respecting all New Yorkers and giving them opportunities to live a better life. And we want our brother and sister immigrants to know that if they need help, and they particularly want to make sure that the help they get is legal and appropriate, and that no one attempts to take advantage of them, all they have to do is call 3-1-1, and just say DACA or DAPA, and they’ll be connected to someone who can help them. Or, go on our website nyc.gov/deferredaction to get the help they deserve. 

We are a city of immigrants and proud of it, and we will not accept anyone who demeans immigrants. We won’t give in to the voices of hatred that have come up so strongly in this country this year attacking immigrants. We will remain true to New York values and defend immigrants, defend the rights of those who are here, and one day – one day we’ll make this nation whole with true comprehensive immigration reform. 

Just a few words in Spanish –

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish] 

With that, it would be my honor to thank everyone who’s here. Thank you all for gathering so quickly in defense of our brother and sister New Yorkers and people all over this country who need us to have their back right now. And it’s my pleasure now to introduce our great Commissioner for Immigrant Affairs, Nisha Agarwal. 

[Applause]

Commissioner Nisha Agarwal, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs: Good afternoon everyone. Today is a day of deep disappointment – that’s an understatement. Immigrants help make New York City the greatest city in the world. Our diversity makes us the greatest city. And today, we are surrounded by representatives from faith, community organizations, service providers, elected officials, impacted individuals, and so many more who care about immigrant rights and are part of our collective fight. Executive action would have enabled immigrant families to realize even more of their full economic and social potential within New York City. They and the city are deprived of that possibility through this decision. It would have meant more than $35 million in income tax revenue every year in New York City – more than $82 million in New York State.

We will continue to connect New Yorkers to the resources they need for their families and communities to thrive. We have a program called ActionNYC, which is the City’s community-based legal services program for information and support. Most City services are accessible to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status – that’s education, it’s emergency food and shelter, it’s healthcare, it’s legal services, and it’s IDNYC. The City has very strong confidentiality protections for New Yorkers who are seeking help and services. As the Mayor said – if you need help, if you have questions, please call 3-1-1 or go to the website nyc.gov/deferredaction. We, as a city, will continue to model how diversity and inclusion work. And we will continue to call for urgently needed, always needed federal immigration reform. And now, I would like to welcome to the podium, my partner from the Council, the Chair of the Immigration Committee – Councilmember Carlos Menchaca.

[…]

Commissioner Agarwal: Thank you so much, everyone. This is a fight for families that will continue. Yes, we can. Si se puede.