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Know Your Rights
Source: WIVB - News 4
Subject: Immigration
Type: Media Coverage

13,000 immigrant inmates to be deported

NEW YORK, NY – Immigration authorities have begun deportation proceedings against an estimated 13,000 inmates held at the Rikers Island penal complex in New York City since 2004.

A coalition of immigrant advocacy groups** says that they obtained the data through a Freedom of Information Act request. The data demonstrates how the city’s Department of Correction works with federal immigration authorities.

The group plans to release their findings on Tuesday at a news conference.

The Department of Correction says it gives information about newly-admitted foreign-born inmates to federal immigraiton officers, but does not provide information about immigration
status.

The Rikers predates a broader federal effort to identify and deport illegal immigrants in local jails.

** Including Make the Road New York