Mayor Adams Backs Bill to Modify NYC’s Sanctuary City Policies

Mayor Eric Adams has endorsed a proposal to modify the existing sanctuary city policies established under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

On Tuesday, July 9th, he expressed his support for a new bill initiated by the Common Sense Caucus, a bipartisan group in the City Council.

The bill aims to amend sections of the city’s Administrative Code that currently prevent local agencies from collaborating with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Adams criticized his predecessor’s approach, stating, “I think the previous administration made a big mistake. I think we need to correct that aspect of it. If you commit a serious violent act in a city after you serve your time, you should not be in the city.” 

He added, “New Yorkers have a right to be safe in their city. The same way anyone breaks the law or does something violent to New Yorkers, I’m going to voice my concern about that.”

The push for change is supported by other prominent council members, including Joseph Borelli, Robert Holden, and David Carr, who believe the city’s current policies hinder effective law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. 

“As a member of the Common Sense Caucus, I am proud to cosponsor legislation that would repeal de Blasio’s so-called Sanctuary City laws,” Carr stated. 

He further advocated for the issue to be placed on the ballot in the upcoming November elections.

Many New Yorkers support a voter referendum on the Sanctuary city laws, seeing it as a necessary step towards enhancing community safety.  The increase in illegal migrants committing crimes including shooting and assaulting police officers, raping children, assaulting, and stabbing New Yorkers and tourists – terrifies New Yorkers.

The proposed revisions target laws enacted during de Blasio’s tenure that strengthened sanctuary city policies to protect illegal immigrants.

These include rules that removed an ICE office from Rikers Island and prohibited the NYPD and other city departments from honoring ICE detainer requests unless under specific conditions, such as convictions for serious crimes or if the individual is on a federal terror watch list.

Data reveals a substantial decrease in ICE detainer requests since these laws took effect. The NYPD reported receiving 2,635 requests from October 2013 to September 2014, compared to just 109 from July 2022 to June 2023.

Councilman Holden articulated his concerns last month, emphasizing the urgency of revising sanctuary city policies. 

He expressed, “Sanctuary city laws put all New Yorkers, both immigrants and longtime residents, in danger by preventing the NYPD and DOC from working with ICE. We must repeal these laws immediately to protect our communities.”

In a July 8th op-ed for the New York Post, Holden questioned the sustainability of the current policies, pointing out the strain caused by the influx of migrants.

“How long can we sustain this? Our neighborhoods are being overwhelmed by the unchecked influx of migrants,” he wrote.

He noted that over 200,000 migrants had entered New York City, with more than 66,000 utilizing city resources, potentially leading to expenditures of around $12 billion over several years, a scenario he described as “unsustainable and unfair.”

Holden also criticized some of his colleagues, accusing them of hypocrisy for labeling Republicans as “anti-immigrant” for advocating secure borders and rational immigration policies. 

He argued that New Yorkers desire leaders who “stand up for their interests and make tough decisions to protect their communities.”

In February, Mayor Adams proposed relaxing the regulations to allow migrants suspected of serious crimes to be handed over to ICE, a practice previously permitted under sanctuary city policies that date back to 1989 under former mayors Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg.

However, the following day, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams dismissed the proposal, stating that she and the Council’s progressive Democratic majority had no plans to consider any changes to the rules.

The debate over sanctuary city policies remains polarized, with proponents arguing that they protect immigrant communities and encourage cooperation with local police.

Opponents, however, like Representative Nicole Malliotakis, argue that these policies can pose security risks, as highlighted by recent incidents involving migrants in New York City. 

“It’s putting New Yorkers in danger, and it’s putting other migrants in the shelter in danger too,” Malliotakis remarked.

As the discussion continues, Mayor Adams’ stance and the actions of the Common Sense Caucus could significantly reshape New York City’s approach to immigration and local law enforcement cooperation.