President Trump's executive orders on undocumented immigrants have prompted a Queens state lawmaker to take some legislative action.
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas introduced a bill to prevent the intimidation of crime victims and witnesses who are undocumented immigrants. Her bill would make it a Felony to report the immigration status of a crime victim or someone who is seeking an order of protection in Family Court.
Simotas said the inspiration for the legislation came after reading about a woman in Texas who was detained for deportation after seeking a protective order.
“We have to make sure that people come forward,” Simotas said. “It makes not only immigrants safer; it makes all of us safer. I think it is unconscionable that a victim of abuse, who is seeking a protective order, could be detained because of immigration status.”
State law currently protects crime victims from harassment, physical violence and threats of physical violence. The law does not address threats of deportation.