New York City has issued a new set of guidelines directing workers at city-related facilities, including nonprofit-run migrant shelters and other city-owned buildings, on how to interact with federal immigration enforcement agents. As reported by Gothamist, the guidance notably allows for cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers if staff members "reasonably feel threatened."
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak emphasized in a statement that the city is not "instructing city employees to simply open doors for federal law enforcement." However, if at any point workers "reasonably feel threatened or fear for their safety or the safety of others around you, you should give the officer the information they have asked for (if available to you) or let them enter the site," according to the memo obtained by Gothamist. The new guidance has spurred dialogue among officials and advocacy groups, some of whom have raised concerns regarding the potential implications for sanctuary protections and the well-being of shelter residents.
The shift in directives seems to be a reaction to increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has lately intensified its actions against sanctuary jurisdictions. A related report by Eyewitness News cites directives at private hospitals and other city properties, including similar advice to employees: that it is illegal "to intentionally protect a person who is in the United States unlawfully from detention."
Critics of the new policy, such as Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ SEIU, have strongly opposed the change. "Our members should not be put in the position of having to make that decision" whether to cooperate, Pastreich told Gothamist, highlighting discomfort among those now caught between city policy and personal convictions. Amidst the controversy, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew reaffirmed via Eyewitness News that schools will follow existing protocols, ensuring the safety of students and maintaining prior policies for dealing with ICE agents.
