On September 17, 2003, Mayor Bloomberg issued Executive Order 41 to ensure that all New Yorkers, including immigrants, can access City services that they need and are entitled to receive. According to Executive Order 41, City workers must protect the confidentiality of a broad range of information belonging to people seeking City
services. One area of information that will be protected as confidential is a person’s immigration status. In protecting information concerning immigration status, the Mayor made a strong statement that what’s good for immigrants is good for New York.
In addition, the policy requires City employees to protect the confidentiality of information about a person’s sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a crime witness, receipt of public assistance, and information in income tax records.

 

HOW DOES THE MAYOR’S PRIVACY POLICY AFFECT IMMIGRANTS?

If you are the victim or witness of a crime, or if you call or approach the police seeking assistance, police officers will not inquire about your immigration status.

• However, if police officers suspect illegal or criminal activities, they may ask you about your immigration status and/or disclose that information.
   

• If you go to a City agency to request certain services or benefits, City employees will not ask you about your immigration status unless it is required by law or necessary to determine whether you are eligible to receive those services or benefits.
   

• If you share your immigration status or other confidential information with City employees, they will not report this information to anyone, except in limited circumstances such as when required by law. If you have questions or concerns about your rights to the confidentiality of information, including immigration status, or if you want to know about eligibility for City services and benefits, you may call 311— 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your call can be anonymous and can be received in 171 different languages. You may provide your question or concern directly to the 311 representative or asked to be referred to a specific agency for assistance, including the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG Mayor
Guillermo Linares
Commissioner

 

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MAYOR BLOOMBERG’S EXECUTIVE ORDER 41
PROTECTS ALL NEW YORKERS

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SERVICES PROVIDED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY
THAT NON-U.S. CITIZENS MAY ACCESS REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

􀀬 Children under 19 are eligible for health insurance under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) 􀀬 Emergency medical care, including ambulance service 􀀬 Prenatal care for pregnant women under Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP) 􀀬 Domestic violence counseling 􀀬 Immunizations 􀀬 HIV testing and counseling 􀀬 Emergency shelter 􀀬 Poison control hotline 􀀬 Food pantry services 􀀬 Child welfare and foster care services 􀀬 Public school education

􀀬 School breakfast and lunch programs 􀀬 Senior services and senior center programs of the Department for the Aging 􀀬 Protection of the Department of Consumer Affairs against consumer fraud 􀀬 Protection of the Commission on Human Rights against discrimination 􀀬 Services and facilities of the Department of Parks and Recreation 􀀬 Public library services and special events 􀀬 Public transportation 􀀬 Police protection 􀀬 Fire protection 􀀬 Certain services provided by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.