All New York Metropolis businesses, together with public colleges and the shelter system, can permit federal authorities trying to find undocumented immigrants onto their property with out warrants if metropolis personnel “reasonably feel threatened” by their presence, in accordance with a brand new coverage rolled out by Mayor Adams’ workplace.
The brand new coverage, which comes as President Trump’s administration is threatening mass deportation raids within the metropolis and throughout the nation, was contained in a Jan. 13 memo disseminated by Adams’ workplace to the overall counsels of all municipal businesses.
Below New York’s present longstanding sanctuary insurance policies, metropolis staff aren’t supposed to permit brokers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and different federal businesses onto metropolis property like shelters, colleges, jails and hospitals until they’re armed with judicial warrants signed off by a federal choose authorizing a particular particular person’s arrest.
Migrants line up outdoors a migrant re-ticketing heart at St. Brigid Faculty on E. Seventh St. Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 in Manhattan. (Barry Williams for New York Every day Information)
“If, at any time, you reasonably feel threatened or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, you should give the officer the information they have asked for [if available to you] or let them enter the site,” the memo addressed the businesses says.
The threats from Trump’s group have particularly been geared toward sanctuary jurisdictions like New York, Chicago and different cities that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Liz Garcia, a spokeswoman for Adams, stated late Thursday the brand new coverage is supposed to guard metropolis staff.
“We are responsible for safeguarding the well-being of our city staff, which is why we have directed city employees not to put themselves in harm’s way during federal immigration enforcement interactions,” she stated. “Employees are advised to contact their legal counsel in such situations and to avoid verbal or physical altercations, as this could compromise their safety and hinder critical city services.”
Immigration advocates and a significant labor union representing city-contracted staff criticized Adams’ new coverage.
“Under this new guidance, our members will be put in an impossible situation of performing their duties of keeping shelter residents safe while the city gives them contradictory and unclear guidance,” stated Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ, a politically highly effective union that represents 1000’s of safety guards staffing city-owned buildings like shelters.
“For example, the guidance directs employees and contractors to allow ICE into facilities if they ‘feel’ ‘fear.’ Our members should not be put in the position of having to make that decision. The Adams administration should take responsibility to ensure its policies and guidance are consistent with the law.”
Energy Malu, a neighborhood immigrant advocate who has helped present companies to 1000’s of newly arrived asylum seekers over the previous few years, stated the directive quantities to Adams rolling out “the red carpet” for Trump’s deportation effort.
“He wants to show [Trump] that in his city he’s going to cooperate,” stated Malu. “That is the crimson carpet. That is saying, ‘You have the green light to go and do whatever you need to do, and my staff and my agencies have been instructed to not stay in your way.’”
Adams has for months said he believes the city’s sanctuary standing regulation are too expansive and needlessly forestall his administration from cooperating with federal immigration authorities relating to coping with criminals or these accused of crimes.
Adams, who has come underneath fireplace for what critics see as an excessively shut working relationship with Trump as he stays underneath federal indictment on corruption prices, stated final yr he was taking a look at the opportunity of utilizing government energy to undo among the metropolis’s sanctuary protections. Up to now, he hasn’t taken any such government motion.
It’s unclear whether or not Adams’ coverage might trigger a authorized problem, given the town’s current sanctuary legal guidelines.
The Authorized Assist Society, which has sued Adams’ administration over quite a lot of insurance policies since he took workplace, declined to remark Thursday when requested whether or not it’s contemplating suing.
However Kathryn Kliff, a Authorized Assist workers lawyer, known as the brand new steering “deeply alarming” and urged Adams’ administration to “retract this memo.”
“This guidance is deeply alarming and will likely deter vulnerable individuals and families with children from entering the local shelter system due to fear of detention and deportation,” she stated.
Initially Printed: February 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM EST
