The latest directives from the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, asking that shelter staff and other city-affiliated organizations cooperate with visiting federal immigration agents have many of these organizations adamant about the request and protesting such guidelines.
Last week, a memorandum instructing the employees at these migrant shelters to collaborate with federal immigration employees or any other lawmakers was sent to the city shelter providers.
The memo noted, “If, at any time, you reasonably feel threatened or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, you should give the officers the information they have asked for (if available to you) or let them enter the site.”
Immigration advocates strongly oppose this decision, standing against it as it violates New York City’s sanctuary principles. The pro-immigration groups have also expressed concerns that the instruction to assist these federal officers deviates from a previous directive that asked for the protection of the immigrant communities.
Adding her opposition to Mayor Adams’ decision, New York Working Families Party co-director Ana Archila claimed that the policy change would encourage federal agents to be more assertive in their approach to immigrants.
Archila said, “Eric Adams sent a guidance to city workers encouraging them to give away the power that the law has granted them.” Adding, “Encouraging ICE officers to be aggressive, and to intimidate our city workers.”
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, NY City Schools Chancellor of the Department of Education, published a message on social media encouraging New York City parents to keep their children in school. “We unequivocally stand with all children in our city regardless of immigration status,” Aviles-Ramos noted. The School Chancellor further mentioned, “We want to be very clear, our policies have not changed; as always, no local law enforcement is permitted in any of our school buildings without a judicial warrant or unless there are exigent circumstances,” she declared.
In a previous statement, NY City spokesperson Kayla Mamelak stated that while the city was offering guidelines to city agencies on managing ICE visits to shelters or other public locations, it was not directing staff to automatically assist federal law enforcement.
In addition, Ms. Mamelak urged shelter workers not to obstruct law enforcement officers if they persist in their actions. Adding that city employees’ and caretakers’ safety comes first.
For his part, Murad Awawdeh, the president and CEO of New York Immigration Coalition Action, stated, “It is clear that Mayor Eric Adams does not respect our laws.”
Consider the challenges the city agency staff are facing in trying to continue abiding by NY City sanctuary laws. The mayor has also issued an executive order permitting federal immigration officials to enter the Rickers Island jail facility and enabling ICE officers to conduct investigations, “in particular those involved in violent criminals and gangs.”
Immigrant advocates in the meeting have overwhelmingly expressed their resentment of the decisions of Mayor Adams, lamenting their concerns about the increased activities of ICE and the city’s collaboration at the expense of the vulnerable immigrants.
