Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Nydia Negron (212) 788-9364
Speaking to an audience of nearly 1,000 who attended the rally, Mayor Giuliani reiterated his support of immigrants who come to this country to create a better life for themselves and their children and acknowledged their invaluable contribution to our economy and cultural diversity.
"Our City was built by the hands of immigrants," said Mayor Giuliani. "New York is the richest and most successful city in the country because of the immigrants who constantly renew and reinvigorate our communities.
"In New York City, immigrants own businesses in higher percentages than other Americans and are ten percent less likely than native-born Americans to be on public assistance," the Mayor said. "They want to achieve and they challenge each of us to do better."
The Mayor added, "America is an immigrant nation with a long and proud tradition of inclusion and diversity. This tradition has helped our country to grow into the world's leading economic power. Forward-looking and enlightened Americans joined together to stop the "know-nothings" of the mid-nineteenth century. This allowed for an incredible expansion in the twentieth century. Now, we must do the same and stand up to today's isolationist movement to ensure that America's next century is as prosperous as the last."
The City of New York is in the process of challenging the constitutionality of parts of the new welfare law in court. This judicial action is seeking revisions to the sections of the Welfare and Immigration laws that discriminate against immigrants. The Mayor's office will be working with a coalition of well-known individuals and organizations concerned with the anti-immigration sentiment in the nation.