NYC Mayor Eric Adams Calls For Repeal Of Sanctuary City Policy For Undocumented Migrants

Mayor Eric Adams (D-New York) has expressed his desire to end the city’s sanctuary city policy and suggests that migrants “suspected” of major crimes should be handed over to federal immigration officials.

This proposal represents a potential shift in New York’s approach to protecting undocumented individuals.

In a press conference at City Hall, Adams stated, “I want to go back to the standards of the previous mayors who I believe subscribe to my belief that people who are suspected of committing serious crimes in this city should be held accountable.”

Adams emphasized the need to return to the standards set by previous mayors, such as Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg, who allowed police to detain those arrested and charged for longer periods, which enabled U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to issue detainers.

However, the current rules established under former Mayor Bill de Blasio provide a level of protection to individuals until they are convicted of major crimes, which effectively shields them from federal scrutiny.

Adams, a former NYPD captain, has acknowledged that the majority of migrants and asylum seekers in the city are law-abiding, but, he has condemned those who target police officers and repeat offenders.

Adams’ stance on sanctuary city policies has garnered support from some Republicans who have long criticized such rules.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-New York) suggested that the mayor should take executive action or propose legislation to repeal the 2014 sanctuary law and allow the NYPD to cooperate with federal immigration officials. Council member Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) also welcomed the mayor’s comments and highlighted the importance of expecting individuals who entered the country illegally to abide by the law.

However, any changes to the current rules would require action by the City Council, and Speaker Adrienne Adams (D) has stated that she would not pursue such a repeal. She clarified that city law does not interfere with the criminal legal process or federal immigration law.

Immigrant advocates and lawyers who have challenged the misrepresentation and politicization of sanctuary city laws have argued that Adams’ proposal would enable local law enforcement to transfer individuals who are merely suspected of a crime to ICE, which would potentially disrupt local criminal court proceedings and perpetuate family separation.

Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition accused Adams of fueling division in his disregard of the evidence that indicates lower crime rates in localities with sanctuary policies.

Last November, Adams was accused of sexual assault, battery, employment discrimination based on gender and sex, retaliation, hostile work environment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.