IMMIGRANTS' ACCESS TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN NEW YORK CITY

The New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) promotes the well-being of immigrant communities. Currently, MOIA focuses on enhancing the economic, civic, and social integration of immigrant New Yorkers; facilitating access to justice for immigrant New Yorkers; and advocating for continued immigration reforms at all levels of government. MOIA enlisted a Capstone team to study the factors that encourage immigrants to feel comfortable reporting crimes and seeking assistance from law enforcement. The team executed interviews with stakeholders and experts and conducted focus groups with immigrants throughout New York City. The team's findings are consistent with existing literature about factors that impact an immigrant community's willingness to cooperate with law enforcement, including the perception of police, misinformation, and limited resources and services for crime victims and witnesses.