In response to growing unease over heightened immigration enforcement measures under the Trump administration, Mayor Eric Adams reassured New York's immigrant population at a recent Queens town hall. According to Gothamist, he emphasized the city's commitment to all residents, stating, "We're going to continue to stand up for all New Yorkers, documented or undocumented."

Addressing fears over the latest executive order that permits immigration agents to carry out arrests at sensitive locations like schools and churches, which was signed earlier during Trump's return to office, Adams insisted that New Yorkers should continue their daily activities without fear. "Children should go to school, those who need health care should go to hospitals," Gothamist quoted Adams. Mayor Adams also recognized the immigrant community's vital contributions during the pandemic, asking, "During COVID, who was keeping the shops open? Who was delivering food to the city, when other people were able to shelter in place?"

The concerns come on the back of a Justice Department memo threatening criminal consequences against state and local officials unwilling to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. With New York's status as a sanctuary city offering some protection to undocumented individuals, Adams has conveyed his office's position that federal immigration enforcement should zero in on those committing severe crimes, not the broader community. Despite the mayor's assurances, fear grips numerous New Yorkers as Trump's first piece of legislation cleared in Congress Wednesday could mandate that federal authorities detain undocumented immigrants for minor offenses, reported ABC7 New York.

While struggling to assuage their anxiety, protesters demonstrated at the same town hall meeting, holding signs that conveyed strong messages like "Don't Sell Out Our Immigrant New Yorkers" and "Protect Our Small Businesses." Advocacy organizations like Make the Road New York and Street Vendors Project, who state that police action along Roosevelt Avenue puts immigrants in jeopardy, especially those without permanent legal status, coordinated these protests. As for Mayor Adams' strategy to tackle the situation, he told an immigrant and parent coordinator, Dulce Pimentel, that his administration is seeking ways to approach immigration "in a humane way," as obtained by Gothamist.