NYC Pushes Guidance Barring ICE from Public Buildings Without a Warrant
Even as Mayor Eric Adams embraces a nonprosecution deal explicitly intended to help him cooperate with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, his administration is backing away from a controversial directive to rank-and-file city workers on their role.
New Guidance for City Workers
In a video message circulated Tuesday, Adams’ corporation counsel, Muriel Goode-Trufant, presented a flow chart on what to do if federal immigration enforcement agents arrive at a city government building, consistent with New York City’s sanctuary city laws limiting cooperation.
Conspicuously missing: A line that had alarmed city employees and immigrant advocates in previous official memos, informing city workers that they should cooperate with federal immigration enforcers "If, at any time, you reasonably feel threatened or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you." The memo was first revealed by Hell Gate.
The new directive instead instructs city workers to "never engage in a physical or verbal altercation with a law enforcement officer." Consistent with previous instructions, the presentation asks employees to seek the guidance of their agency’s counsel’s office and to cooperate with judicial warrants.
"We will not put a frontline worker in harm’s way and subject to arrest by federal officers simply by doing their job," said Goode-Trufant.
Context: Trump’s Department of Justice and Mayor Adams
The new guidance was expected to be circulated among city agencies this week, according to Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Adams, and comes a day after agency commissioners and top lawyers were summoned to a meeting where Mayor Eric Adams warned them not to criticize Trump and not to interfere with potential immigration enforcement actions by the federal government.
Hours later, Trump’s Department of Justice ordered federal prosecutors in New York’s Southern District to drop four corruption charges against Adams, in a letter that cited the need for Adams to help with immigration enforcement within the five boroughs.
New York City’s Sanctuary City Laws
The latest guidance appeared to revert back to earlier guidance, reported on by THE CITY last month, that required city workers to request a judicial warrant and send it to legal counsel and only allow the federal agents into the building once counsel had approved.
Reactions from Immigrant Advocates
Murad Awawdeh, the President of the New York Immigration Coalition, said he appreciated Goode-Trufant’s clarification, but said it wouldn’t "undo the harm of the policies they put out last week." Awawdeh pointed out the Justice Department memo released Tuesday requesting federal prosecutors drop charges against Adams, demanding his cooperation on immigration enforcement, something the mayor is explicitly barred from doing in most instances under New York City’s sanctuary laws.
"This is a moment for the mayor to say the words out of his mouth: ‘We will not coordinate with immigration enforcement. We will not collaborate with immigration enforcement,’" he said.
Conclusion
The new guidance is a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to alleviate concerns among city workers and immigrant advocates. As the debate over immigration enforcement continues to unfold, it is crucial for city officials to prioritize the well-being and safety of all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status.
FAQs
- What is the new guidance for city workers on dealing with ICE?
The new guidance instructs city workers to "never engage in a physical or verbal altercation with a law enforcement officer" and to seek the guidance of their agency’s counsel’s office and to cooperate with judicial warrants. - What is the current stance on immigration enforcement in New York City?
New York City’s sanctuary city laws limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and city workers are not required to report immigrants to ICE. - What is the role of the Mayor in immigration enforcement?
The Mayor is barred from cooperating with immigration enforcement in most instances under New York City’s sanctuary laws.
