New York City
AI Assisted Icon
Published on November 13, 2024
New York Mayor Eric Adams Seeks Engagement with President-Elect Trump on Immigration ReformSource: Wikipedia/UK Government, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mayor Eric Adams, confronting a fractured immigration system, stated his intent to actively engage with President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. In a bid to influence the policy trajectory, Adams plans to offer suggestions on immigration reform. According to Crain's New York, Adams expressed a need for changes, emphasizing that no city should have to endure what New York has faced, with more than 200,000 migrants arriving in the past two years.

While Adams has stood firmly against Trump's proposed mass deportations, he suggested the City Council consider amendments, allowing for more coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in cases involving criminal activity. A law in place permits the city to cooperate with ICE detainer requests under specific circumstances, but the NYPD does not aid in transferring individuals to federal custody, nor does it monitor the immigration status of those in its custody. "The voters said, 'This is a problem,'", Adams highlighted, as reported by ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

Adams also pointed to the need to address where migrants are settled post-entry, proposing that those paroled ahead of asylum hearings be distributed to areas of the country with labor shortages. This would aim to alleviate the stress on cities like New York that have become epicenters for migrant influx. He reiterated this during his press conference, "If you parole into this country, you should be told where you’re going," as Crain's New York reported.

In the same vein, the mayor advocated for rapid processing of work authorizations for asylum seekers, to make sure those entering the US can actually sustain themselves. Adams emphasized the humanitarian treatment of newcomers, saying, "people who are repeat offenders of violent acts, after they serve their time, they should not remain in our city," a perspective noted by Crain's New York. However, Adams has reassured that his stance does not conflict with the city's sanctuary laws designed to protect undocumented immigrants, as affirmed in a statement by the Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro to ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams criticized Adams, accusing him of potentially aligning with Trump’s hardline stance on immigration. However, Adams's approach appears to seek a balance between protecting migrants and enhancing public safety. Ultimately, he did not outline any measures the city would take against potential large-scale deportations, indicating that any alterations to Sanctuary City laws would need to come through the City Council.