New York City’s Mayor Advocates for Stronger Collaboration Between Local Police and ICE – Sky Bulletin

In a recent statement, New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his desire for greater collaboration between the NYPD and federal immigration authorities. He criticized current city regulations that limit this interaction, contending that they are a detriment to public security.

Adams’s comments constitute a significant critique of the sanctuary city laws that New York has embraced over the past ten years. These laws were initially designed to shield the city’s immigrant residents by restricting the extent to which local authorities could contribute to federal immigration enforcement actions.

Adams, who is a member of the Democratic Party, specifically argued that the NYPD should be permitted to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when an individual is suspected of committing grave offenses such as robbery or being involved in gang activities.

“We should be communicating with ICE, and if ICE makes the determination of deporting, then they should,” stated Adams.

He expressed his concern over the inability of local agencies to communicate with ICE about individuals involved in multiple robberies or gang-related activities, labeling the communication barrier as problematic.

Recent high-profile incidents involving migrants in New York, including clashes with law enforcement officers and a shooting in Times Square, have provoked strong reactions from conservative groups.

The city’s initial efforts to limit collaboration with federal immigration agents date back to the 1980s, aiming to assure the immigrant community that they need not fear interaction with local law enforcement. Prominent figures, including former Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani, supported these policies, highlighting the importance of making immigrants feel secure in contacting police.

These restrictions have been intensified under subsequent city administrations. Despite recognizing the significant “drastic shifts” in policy, Adams has not specified which laws he aims to challenge. His spokesperson, however, indicated that the mayor opposes laws from 2014 and 2017 enacted under former Mayor Bill de Blasio that hinder city cooperation in holding suspects for immigration authorities and using city resources in immigration enforcement.

Supporters of these sanctuary city laws argue that they provide necessary due process for immigrants who might otherwise face detention and deportation based solely on suspicion of criminal activity.

Any change to these laws would require the consent of the City Council, where progressive leaders have communicated no interest in altering these protections. Nonetheless, Mayor Adams’s stance might lend some validity to the controversial assertion that migrants play a role in the city’s crime rates, a notion that civil rights organizations such as the New York Civil Liberties Union vehemently oppose.

What is the current relationship between local police and ICE?

Currently, New York City’s sanctuary laws restrict the NYPD from actively cooperating with ICE in the detention and deportation of immigrants unless specific criteria are met, such as the individual being convicted of certain violent crimes and a judge issuing a warrant.

Why does Mayor Eric Adams want to change these policies?

Mayor Adams believes that these policies hinder public safety by preventing open communication with federal immigration authorities about individuals suspected of serious crimes like robbery or gang involvement.

What laws are Mayor Adams opposed to?

Adams opposes laws enacted in 2014 and 2017 that prevent city cooperation in holding crime suspects for ICE and using city resources to assist in immigration enforcement efforts unless certain conditions are met.

Can Mayor Adams change these laws on his own?

No, Mayor Adams cannot unilaterally change these laws. Any alterations would require approval from the City Council, which currently has no plans to revisit these protections.