Mayor Adams Offers Mixed Messages on Mass Deportations
Mayor Eric Adams offered mixed messages on Tuesday to New Yorkers wondering how his administration plans to respond to the mass deportations President-elect Donald Trump has promised.
‘Not the Values of Our City’
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press briefing, Adams said he was opposed to Trump’s threats of mass deportation — but only after he was pressed repeatedly by reporters for clarification.
“This is a sanctuary city,” Adams said, after lamenting the country’s “broken immigration system” when initially asked how he felt about mass deportations. “Those laws are in place. I want people to continue to go to school. I want people to continue to use our hospital systems. I want people to continue to know that if they’re a victim of a crime, they should report those criminal actions against them. I don’t wanna go to the days where people are going to hide in the shadows.”
Conflicting Statements
But at other times during the briefing, Adams reiterated his position that some of the city’s existing sanctuary city laws, which limit cooperation between local authorities and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, should be changed. He declined to say how, adding he thought he could be of assistance to the incoming Trump administration.
Angering Immigrant Advocates
The mayor’s remarks Tuesday angered immigrant advocates who said Adams should be clear about his stances towards the city’s estimated 412,000 undocumented immigrants, many of whom live in mixed-status families with some U.S. citizens and have called the city home for years.
“What we need to hear out of the mayor is that he is going to enforce the local laws that are on the books that are under his power and assure that all city agencies are complying with local law,” said New York Immigration Coalition President and CEO Murad Awawdeh. “Meaning that we are a sanctuary city and that we will not be participating in any mass deportation efforts that are happening because that is not who we are. [These are] not the values of our city.”
Conclusion
Mayor Adams’s mixed messages on mass deportations have sparked controversy and concern among immigrant advocates. While he initially expressed opposition to Trump’s threats, he later reiterated his support for changing some of the city’s sanctuary city laws. The mayor’s reluctance to criticize Trump has triggered speculation that he is currying favor with the incoming president in the face of his historic federal indictment.
FAQs
Q: What did Mayor Adams say about mass deportations?
A: Mayor Adams initially expressed opposition to Trump’s threats of mass deportation, but later reiterated his support for changing some of the city’s sanctuary city laws.
Q: What are the city’s current sanctuary protections?
A: The city’s current sanctuary protections block most cooperation with I.C.E.’s immigration enforcement, though the federal agency still has free reign to operate within the five boroughs.
Q: What can Mayor Adams do to address the concerns of immigrant advocates?
A: Mayor Adams could immediately direct the city agency to cease communication with I.C.E. and bring the city in line with other immigrant-welcoming cities around the country.
Q: Why is Mayor Adams’s reluctance to criticize Trump concerning?
A: Mayor Adams’s reluctance to criticize Trump has triggered speculation that he is currying favor with the incoming president in the face of his historic federal indictment.
