Members of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus in New York City Council publicly urged Mayor Michael Bloomberg to investigate how the immigrant status of Minkuan Chen, the Bronx take-out deliveryman who was trapped in an elevator for three days, was disclosed. Council members want the mayor to discipline the police officers who violated Executive Order 41, which forbids the police from revealing a victim’s immigration status.

Councilman John Liu (D-Queens) angrily said that the mayor needs to do something to show that he really meant it when he said that this type of disclosure violates his own order.

Chen was trapped in an out-of-order elevator for three-and-half days after delivering Chinese take-out to a big residential complex in the Bronx, while the police conducted a round-the-clock search of the complex. Due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the case, the story was widely reported. The police disclosed to the press that Chen is an illegal immigrant. Later, immigration authorities stated that Chen presents no danger to society and is not likely to be deported anytime soon.

But Councilman Liu does not think this much of a guarantee. Liu, who has been at the Bronx scene since the beginning, said that Chen is still “very worried.” According to Liu, Chen is finding it hard to work now that his illegal status is “exposed.” Chen has been avoiding the media since his status became an issue. Liu said that he will do anything to prevent Chen from being deported.

Councilman Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) said that he had planned to introduce a “No Fear” bill but the mayor’s Executive Order 41 made it seem redundant. He said that the bill and Executive Order 41 are based on the same rational: to help all New Yorkers to get governmental services in order to prevent the spread of disease and eliminate criminal elements. Monserrate urged Mayor Bloomberg to investigate Chen’s case to make sure it will not happen again.

Councilman Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) said that the mayor has not responded to a letter they sent on April 13th.

Mayor Bloomberg signed Executive Order 41 on 17 September 2003, forbidding all city agencies, including the police, from asking and revealing the immigrant status, sexual orientation, identity of domestic violence victims, identity of crime witnesses, and tax records of people seeking government services.

Executive Order 41 is designed so that all New York residents can feel comfortable enough to seek public help when they need it.