Governor Aims to End Discrimination
and Unlawful Targeting of Immigrants
and Unlawful Targeting of Immigrants
The
New York State Departments of State, Homes and Community Renewal, and
the Division of Human Rights have been directed to launch a comprehensive statewide
investigation of landlord policies and practices that may discriminate
against individuals based on their immigration status, national origin,
ethnicity or race. Additionally, the state will launch a new campaign
designed to educate both landlord and tenants about their legal rights
and responsibilities. This announcement comes following an increase in
reports that landlords are illegally demanding that tenants provide
proof of citizenship or be subject to eviction from their homes.
"These allegations of fear and intimidation are unacceptable, illegal, and run counter to everything New York represents," Governor Cuomo said. "We
stand by the promise inscribed on the Statue of Liberty to protect the
rights of all those seeking a better life as New Yorkers and will not
stand idly by as people are threatened and harassed in their own homes. This
action will help ensure renters are protected, that they know their
rights, and that this ugly and repulsive behavior is stopped right in
its tracks."
In New York, it is illegal to require a
tenant to provide immigration status information as a condition to renew
their lease. Owners of rent-regulated buildings may lawfully request
social security numbers and supporting documentation from applicants or
when a tenant signs their first lease, as part of a routine background
and credit check for all prospective tenants. Landlords may also request
verification of citizenship status to set up security deposit accounts
in order to provide interest payments on the deposits. However, if a
tenant is in the process of a lease renewal, landlords cannot request
social security numbers or immigration information as a means to harass
tenants into leaving their apartments. It is also unlawful to
discriminate against or harass tenants because of their national origin
or other protected classes under the Human Rights Law, or to retaliate
against a tenant who opposes discrimination.
The Departments of State and Homes and
Community Renewal, and the Division of Human Rights are empowered to
investigate individual complaints of discrimination filed with the
agencies, or, on its own motion, to initiate and file its own
investigations and complaints of discrimination. At the Governor’s
direction, these agencies will immediately undertake such an
investigation in this matter.
The Office for New Americans, the Division
of Human Rights, and Homes and Community Renewal are also working
together to engage the immigrant community and inform them of their
rights as New Yorkers. These initiatives advance the Governor's "We Are
All Immigrants" directive. The Governor's charge to the agencies is to
continue the legacy of protecting the rights and freedoms of all New
Yorkers, including immigrants, so that we can continue to succeed
together as we have for centuries, and ensure that the promise of refuge
in our state is not distorted or disavowed.
The Governor's Immigrant Resource Guide outlines
programs and initiatives designed to support immigrants and their
families. In conjunction with the guide, Homes and Community Renewal and
the Division of Human Rights have developed an Immigration and Housing Fact Sheet that addresses "Frequently Asked Questions" related to immigration status, housing discrimination, and tenant harassment.
Since its launch in 2013, the New York State
Office for New Americans, the first state-level immigrant office
created by statute in the nation, and has provided comprehensive
immigration services and legal assistance to more than 150,000 people on
the path to citizenship, providing a wide range of free resources, from
English classes, to naturalization prep, to entrepreneurship seminars.
The Office is supported by a robust network of 27 Opportunity Centers
throughout the State.
Earlier this year, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo,
through the Office for Americans, launched the second round of
"NaturalizeNY" – the first-of-its-kind public-private partnership to
encourage eligible immigrants in New York State with becoming U.S.
citizens. The initiative provides comprehensive support through the
naturalization process – featuring free eligibility screenings,
application assistance, naturalization exam preparation, and for round
two, a lottery for up to 1,500 vouchers for low-income
citizenship-eligible immigrants. The Governor launched NaturalizeNY last
July, and through its first six months, has helped more than 3,200
immigrant New Yorkers pursue United States citizenship, including over
2,250 low-income immigrants.
The Governor has announced several resources
available to immigrants in New York State, including the
first-in-the-nation public-private Liberty Defense Project.
The partnership is supported by more than $10 million in funding to
offer legal assistance and representation to immigrants in New York,
regardless of their status, through a statewide network of attorneys and
advocacy organizations.
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