Mayor Eric Adams has stirred controversy recently with remarks about the constitutional rights of undocumented immigrants in New York City. Adams, facing federal corruption charges and having pleaded not guilty, suggested yesterday that undocumented individuals are not entitled to the same due process under the U.S. Constitution as citizens. "The Constitution is for Americans," Adams told reporters at his weekly City Hall press conference, igniting a quick rebuttal from legal experts, as reported by Gothamist.

Elora Mukherjee, director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School, tackled the mayor's claim, stating, "The mayor’s claim has no basis in law." According to Mukherjee, all people on U.S. soil have rights under the Constitution, including the right to due process, regardless of citizenship status. Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, expressed criticism by accusing the mayor of ripping a page from Trump's playbook and called for an expectation that the mayor understands the rights of the people he serves, according to Gothamist. These comments from the mayor have raised concerns as President-elect Donald Trump threatens mass deportations, to which Adams has suggested coordination with federal immigration authorities to deport undocumented individuals who have committed crimes without waiting for a trial.

Furthermore, Mayor Adams announced his request to meet with Trump's appointed "border czar" Tom Homan, who is known for favoring an aggressive stance on immigration control. Adams has been vocal about his interest in working with the incoming administration, albeit his rhetoric has sometimes been at odds with the reality of immigration in NYC, as detailed by ABC7NY. Despite previous statements by Adams that immigrants are law-abiding, he has also blamed migrant communities for the city's ills, citing the $6.4 billion price tag the city has incurred in caring for migrants and claiming it detracts from investments in other critical areas like senior services and youth programs.

The backlash extends beyond the usual suspects, with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams denouncing Adams' rhetoric and leadership as harmful to the fabric of the city. The mayor's stance on scaling back the city’s sanctuary rules is also a major pivot from the policies of former mayors who have historically promoted such policies to ensure immigrants feel safe utilizing city services. This development comes as advocates rally for state funds to combat the potential effects of the president-elect's stance on mass deportations and amid claims by Adams that the Biden Administration had left New York City to fend for itself in managing an overwhelming influx of migrants.

In recent developments, immigration advocates demand $165 million in state funding to support legal services, affirming the value of immigrants to New York City's community and economy. The advocacy efforts underscore the critical role immigrants play, as illustrated by former Schools Chancellor David Banks who acknowledged migrant children for bolstering city schools facing declining enrollment, as noted by ABC7NY. Notably, the Adams administration has spent substantial resources on migrants, with over $6.4 billion directed to more than 200,000 individuals bused from the southern border, a figure that surpasses the annual budget of the city's police and fire departments combined. Adams maintained that his agreement with Trump's policies is based on alignment of views, rather than potential personal benefit in his federal case.