To protect immigrants from deportation, Mayor Bill de Blasio should instruct the New York City Police Department to issue civil citations for low-level, nonviolent offenses instead of making arrests, the New York City Bar Association recommended in a letter to de Blasio.

Last year, New York City passed a package of laws called the Criminal Justice Reform Act including legislation to allow low-level violations like littering, public urination and drinking in public to be treated as civil, rather than criminal, offenses.

In its letter to de Blasio, the city bar also notes that City Council has urged police to issue civil citations whenever possible. But it also notes that issuance of the citations remains discretionary, and that civil citations should be issued in cases where there is no apparent threat to public safety.