Council Conservatives Join Border Czar in Pressing Adams to Bypass Sanctuary Law
Neither Mayor Eric Adams nor U.S. “Border Czar” Tom Homan or their spokespeople are saying what happened in their closed-door meeting in lower Manhattan Thursday on immigration enforcement — but conservative City Council members who met with Homan earlier in the day say the city’s “sanctuary city” law should pose no obstacle.
Council Members Strategize with Homan
Several members of the Council’s “Common Sense Caucus” met with Homan before Adams did, and emerged to say they had strategized around how Adams could use executive orders to waive city sanctuary laws that prohibit most local cooperation with federal enforcement.
Holden: Mayor Has Authority to Suspend Laws
Bob Holden (R-Queens), who co-chairs the caucus, said to reporters outside 26 Federal Plaza: “The state gives the mayor the authority under executive orders to suspend certain laws in New York City, New York State also that are endangering the public. Public safety is paramount.”
Homan Expresses Frustration with Adams
Holden also suggested that Homan is prepared to act with or without Adams’ assistance. “If the mayor is not going to do what he can do, what he has the power to do, then that’s where Tom Homan comes in,” he said. Holden added that Homan expressed frustration at Adams, saying the mayor had failed to follow through on commitments made at a December meeting with Homan at Gracie Mansion.
Adams and Homan Meet, Refuse to Comment
Homan and Adams met for around 90 minutes, after Homan promised to pressure Adams into providing more assistance to Trump administration immigration enforcement. Their sitdown came days after Trump’s Justice Department moved to drop federal corruption charges against Adams, citing the need for his help on immigration enforcement as well as the upcoming election.
New York City’s Sanctuary Laws
New York’s sanctuary laws bar the NYPD and Department of Correction from holding people at the behest of ICE without a judicial warrant, with the exception of people who have already been convicted of certain violent crimes. The laws also prevent city resources from being expended on immigration enforcement.
Advocates Call for Stronger Assurances
Advocates for immigrants in New York City said they need stronger assurances from Adams at a critical moment. ICE arrested some 100 people in New York City in the first wave of its raids, though federal agents have refused to provide specifics about the ongoing crackdown, even as reports of ICE agents continue to crop up across the city, following President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration.
Council Speaker Expresses Concerns
Asked about the Mayor’s meeting with Homan, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said she has “serious concerns” about whether the mayor will continue to comply with the city’s sanctuary laws, but doubted he had the legal authority to override them. “The mayor does not have the legal authority to suspend the law by executive order,” she said. “He can issue orders, including emergency orders, but whether it’s legal is a wholly different question and that’s something that would, again, another bridge to cross if we get to that.”
Conclusion
The meeting between Mayor Eric Adams and U.S. “Border Czar” Tom Homan has sparked concerns about the city’s sanctuary laws and the potential for the mayor to bypass them. While some council members may be pushing for executive orders to suspend these laws, others are warning that such action would be unlawful and would likely face legal challenges.
FAQs
- What are the city’s sanctuary laws?
New York’s sanctuary laws bar the NYPD and Department of Correction from holding people at the behest of ICE without a judicial warrant, with the exception of people who have already been convicted of certain violent crimes. The laws also prevent city resources from being expended on immigration enforcement. - Can the mayor suspend these laws?
According to Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, the mayor does not have the legal authority to suspend these laws by executive order, and such action would likely face legal challenges. - What is the purpose of the meeting between Homan and Adams?
The meeting was reportedly focused on the city’s immigration enforcement policies and the potential for the mayor to provide more assistance to Trump administration immigration enforcement efforts.
