Mayor Eric Adams announced on Thursday that he plans to issue an executive order to amend the city’s sanctuary laws following a meeting with Tom Homan, the incoming ‘border czar’ for the Trump administration. The mayor clarified his previous comments about undocumented New Yorkers not being entitled to due process and stated that the city would not be a safe haven for those who have committed crimes. However, he did not specify which crimes would allow city officials to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the sanctuary laws.
Adams has faced criticism from Democrats, including mayoral challengers, who accuse him of being anti-immigrant and seeking favor with the Trump administration to potentially secure a pardon related to federal corruption charges. State Sen. Jessica Ramos and other challengers have criticized Adams for making divisive comments and appearing to align with the incoming administration.
During the press conference, Adams also cited inaccurate statistics about missing children with sponsors in the country, which have been previously used by Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. The mayor’s shifting stance on immigration and sanctuary laws have raised concerns about potential changes that could put more undocumented New Yorkers at risk of deportation.
The city’s sanctuary laws, established in the 1980s and updated in 2014, are intended to protect undocumented immigrants and ensure their constitutional rights, including due process. Any proposed changes to the laws by Mayor Adams could impact how undocumented residents interact with city services and law enforcement. Adams stated that further details on the amendments would be provided at a later date.
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