Eric Adams proposes U-turn on NYC’s controversial sanctuary city status after migrant crime wave grips Big Apple
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday called for a change in the city’s current sanctuary policy that severely limits communication between federal agents and the city following a recent series of crimes that allegedly involved migrants in Gotham.
Hizzoner said he believes city authorities should better cooperate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to potentially deport migrants “suspected” of carrying out “serious” crimes in the Big Apple.
“I want to go back to the standards of the previous mayors who I believe subscribe to my belief that people who are suspected of committing serious crimes in the city should be held accountable,” Adams, a Democrat, said during a press conference.
“I think that New Yorkers have a right to be safe,” Adams added.
When asked by a reporter about a migrant’s due process, Adams shot back, “They didn’t give due process to the person that they shot or punched or killed. There’s just a philosophical disagreement here.”
“They could have due process, but we should be communicating with ICE,” Adams continued. “And with ICE makes the determination of deporting, then they should.”
City Hall noted Tuesday night ICE has its own due processes under federal law that determine whether a migrant should be deported. Officials added that Adams was referring to migrants who allegedly commit major felonies or are repeat offenders.
A previous executive order from 1989 made clear officials could not send federal authorities the immigration status of a person who sought city services or was the victim of a crime, City Hall chief counsel Lisa Zornberg said.
In 2014, a law passed prohibited the city from honoring ICE detainers if someone is suspected of a crime or even convicted of a crime unless certain exceptions were met, Zornberg said during the press conference. The policy was then beefed up in 2017.
“There’s a bar, and the operation of those two laws essentially placed strong limitations on the city’s ability to cooperate or to provide even just notification to federal authorities,” she said.
She said the policies are for city councilmembers to “reexamine,” which NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ office made clear wouldn’t happen.
A rep for Speaker Adams referred The Post to Feb. 8 remarks made by the council leader where she said there were no plans to revisit sanctuary laws.
“Her response has not changed,” a spokesperson said in an email.
In recent weeks, migrants in the Big Apple have been charged in the assault on two cops in Times Square, a massive robbery ring with mopeds and a shooting that wounded a tourist.
The policy has also come under fire after migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra was arrested in the murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley this month. Ibarra, who entered the country illegally, was arrested last year in Queens for allegedly riding a scooter with a child who was not wearing a helmet or using required child restraints.
He was charged with a felony and released before ICE could issue a detainer, officials said, later making his way to Georgia.
Adams said Tuesday a small number of migrants shouldn’t be allowed to “hide under” that current set of laws.
“I believe New Yorkers should be safe and the migrants and asylum seekers that are doing the right thing should not be caught up with those who are not doing the right thing,” he said.
Nolan Hicks contributed reporting.
