Eric Adams Readies to Testify Before House Republicans on Sanctuary City Status
Mayor Eric Adams is in Washington D.C. preparing to testify before the House Oversight Committee Wednesday morning as one of four “sanctuary city mayors” in what’s expected to be a brutal grilling from Republicans advocating aggressive immigration enforcement.
But Adams stands apart from fellow Democratic mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Mike Johnston of Denver — and not just because Adams has openly questioned New York City’s laws barring most city government cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Adams has recently become a high-profile partner of the Trump administration as it ramps up efforts to arrest, detain, and deport immigrants — his part of a bargain in which the Trump Department of Justice is seeking to drop Adams’ federal corruption charges in an extraordinary pact.
Live on camera, he will have to walk a tightrope, navigating between members of Congress looking to draw blood — among them Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado — and New York City voters, many of them immigrants or children of immigrants.
No Action Yet
Immigration advocates remain unconvinced by Adams’ words of support for New York City’s immigrants.
Following the Department of Justice’s request to drop the charges in exchange for Adams’ cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Adams met with Trump’s Border Czar Thomas Homan and did joint media appearances promising a partnership, starting with reopening an ICE center on Rikers Island to intercept people leaving jail.
Pro-immigrant groups plan to rally on the steps of City Hall Wednesday morning ahead of the hearing, aiming to pressure Adams to stand up for the city’s sanctuary protections, which have been on the books in various forms since the late 1980s.
“It’s imperative that Mayor Adams that he puts immigrant New Yorkers first and the well-being of our city ahead of his own desire for a get out of jail free card,” said Zach Ahmad, senior policy counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Adams’ Testimony
Adams has been prepping for testimony daily with members of his legal, intergovernmental, and communications teams, while Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs Tiffany Raspberry has been talking with staffers working with the other mayors slated to testify.
Asked Tuesday what he planned to communicate to the American public, Adams said he wants to highlight the important role immigrants play in New York City, citing his experience during the pandemic.
“When I went to the hospitals I saw first and second generation immigrants, nurses managing the crisis. Who was stocking our shelves? Who was delivering your Uber Eats? I really want to really show why it’s important, this concept of sanctuary city,” he said.
Adams seemed to acknowledge his days left in City Hall could be numbered.
“My picture will be in City Hall,” Adams said. “That’s been the greatest thrill of my life to get here. And that was the meat and potato. Term two is the gravy. I have a full stomach with the meat and potatoes.”
No Action Yet
Immigration advocates remain unconvinced by Adams’ words of support for New York City’s immigrants.
Following the Department of Justice’s request to drop the charges in exchange for Adams’ cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Adams met with Trump’s Border Czar Thomas Homan and did joint media appearances promising a partnership, starting with reopening an ICE center on Rikers Island to intercept people leaving jail.
Pro-immigrant groups plan to rally on the steps of City Hall Wednesday morning ahead of the hearing, aiming to pressure Adams to stand up for the city’s sanctuary protections, which have been on the books in various forms since the late 1980s.
“It’s imperative that Mayor Adams that he puts immigrant New Yorkers first and the well-being of our city ahead of his own desire for a get out of jail free card,” said Zach Ahmad, senior policy counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union.
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Conclusion
As Mayor Adams prepares to testify before the House Oversight Committee, his words of support for New York City’s immigrants are being met with skepticism by pro-immigrant groups. The hearing is expected to be a tense and heated debate, with some calling for the city to reevaluate its sanctuary policies and others advocating for the city to maintain its commitment to protecting its immigrant community.
FAQs
What is the purpose of the House Oversight Committee hearing?
The hearing is to discuss the sanctuary city status of four mayors: Eric Adams of New York City, Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Mike Johnston of Denver.
What are the concerns of pro-immigrant groups about Mayor Adams’ testimony?
Pro-immigrant groups are concerned that Mayor Adams’ words of support for New York City’s immigrants are not being backed up by his actions, particularly given his recent partnership with the Trump administration and his comments about revising the city’s sanctuary laws.
What is the significance of the Trump administration’s request to drop the charges against Mayor Adams?
The request is seen as an attempt to win over Mayor Adams’ cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which could have significant implications for the city’s sanctuary policies and the immigrant community.
