Bloomberg signed a law prevents deport illegal innocent

New York signed Tuesday a bill that would limit the cooperation between the municipality and the Government to prevent the deportation of immigrants without papers who are arrested but later declared innocent.

The law - which was described as "historic" by activists and immigrants that support - will prevent the Prisons Department of the city to surrender to a federal immigration agency the names of foreign prisoners who come to Rikers Island prison and do not have authorization to reside in United States.

"Our city is a city of immigrants." "We want to ensure that they have opportunities here," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg before signing the legislation in a crowded room of the Mayor.

"I believe that this measure protects public safety and ensures that immigrants who are innocent and do not have a criminal record will be out of custody".

Immigrants without papers who will benefit from the initiative u000aare those who are arrested for other reasons, taken to Rikers Island, but then see their cases dismissed, they are declared innocent or they are only charged with crimes minors.

The Department of Prisio nes identified more than 13,000 foreign prisoners in 2010.

, The immigration and customs enforcement agency (ICE for its acronym in English) ranked almost 3,200 to be deported, according to municipal.

Almost 50% of the prisoners of the city which in 2009 were handed over to ICE did not have sentences prior.

A 20.9% had committed a crime less.

Gamaliel Lopez, a Mexican of 26 years he spent 20 months in Rikers Island for a crime he didn't commit, applauded the signing of Bloomberg.

I am really happy because this will give opportunities to many immigrants", said the immigrant, clearly excited. "I lost 20 months of my life." "It was a nightmare and I do not want to live it." López was arrested on 6 of u000aAugust 2009 by assault.

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