DiNapoli Statement on Arizona Immigration Bill

“Arizona’s new immigration law is wrongheaded and counterproductive. Everyone agrees that immigration reform is necessary, but SB 1070 is simply the wrong way to strengthen our borders, protect taxpayers, and create a path to citizenship for undocumented workers. Arizona’s new law may not be constitutional and it will invite racial and ethnic profiling while fostering distrust among neighbors. This is not the American way.

“Immigrants have enriched the social and economic life of New York. My January 2010 report gives a pretty clear picture of the contributions of foreign-born workers in New York. New York was built by immigrants. We need to remember our heritage as a nation that welcomes newcomers from every corner of the globe, and we need to raise our voices in dissent against this badly-conceived, mean-spirited law.”