From the New York Times June 7, 1996 article "Giuliani Criticizes G.O.P. And Dole on Immigration" we read (part also here):
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani criticized Senator Bob Dole today for supporting Republican-sponsored legislation that would restrict Government aid to immigrants and called those restrictions "a terrible, terrible mistake."
Mr. Giuliani cited measures in the legislation that would restrict public benefits to legal immigrants, allow states to bar illegal immigrant children from public schools and force local authorities and hospitals to report undocumented aliens who report a crime or seek emergency medical aid...
As if to confront Mr. Dole with a historical comparison, Mr. Giuliani several times in his speech cited the example of Abraham Lincoln as a principled Republican who stood up to the anti-immigrant policies of the Know-Nothing Party of the 1850's.
Mr. Giuliani's views on immigration are well known. As the grandson of Italian immigrants and the Mayor of an immensely diverse metropolis, he has for years promoted the view that immigrants -- legal and illegal -- are productive, hard-working contributors to New York's vibrant economy and culture...
...Some of the Mayor's concerns focused on legal immigrants. Both House and Senate bills, for example, would restrict legal immigrants from applying for such public benefits as job-training programs, child care and college loans.
"People who are legal resident aliens should be entitled to benefits, all the benefits that exist for citizens," Mr. Giuliani said after his speech.
But his address focused on illegal immigration, the centerpiece of the proposed legislation...
..."The reality is that [child illegal aliens] are here, and they're going to remain here," Mr. Giuliani said of the children. "The choice becomes for a city what do you do? Allow them to stay on the streets or allow them to be educated? The preferred choice from the point of view of New York City is to be educated."
The Mayor also criticized Congressional efforts to overturn a 10-year-old city executive order that bars city agencies from notifying the immigration service of illegal immigrants if such notification would prevent illegal immigrants from enrolling their children in school, reporting a crime or seeking medical aid.
"If legislation like this passes, there will be no real impact on illegal immigration," Mr. Giuliani said. "There will be a tremendous amount of scapegoating and punitive measures put into place. In many cases, cities will opt to take care of problems that the Federal Government should take care of."