Immigration groups in New York have accused Mayor Eric Adams of allegedly failing to support Caribbean and other immigrants.
Advocates claim Adams “left behind” immigrants at his State of the City Address (SOTC) on January 9, 2025.
In his fourth SOTC lecture at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, Adams observed that immigrants have historically fueled New York City’s economy and culture and that this long-standing fact remains unchanged.
The mayor, however, “failed to mention what he will do to support immigrant New York families to not only thrive but survive the Trump administration’s deportation and family separation agenda,” according to Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC).
Awawdeh, whose umbrella policy and advocacy organization represents more than 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, said, “At a time when elected officials in D.C. (District of Columbia) and across the country are targeting and scapegoating immigrants, his silence on this crucial issue for our families and economy is deafening,”
Awawdeh told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), “He spoke about keeping families safe but is scheming with the Trump administration about how to turn our neighbors over to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and erode community trust in our local law enforcement.”
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Awawdeh remarked, “He talked about recent arrivals to New York City taking the ‘next step on their journey,’ when that actually means evicting individuals and families from the shelter system and leaving them on the street.”
Adding, “We are looking forward to a future where the state of the city is more than empty words designed to burnish the mayor’s image, and where statements are backed up by actions that serve the health and well-being of every single New Yorker”.
Jose Lopez, the Make the Road New York (MRNY) co-executive director, stated, “While Mayor Adams speaks of a vision where New York City is ‘the best place to raise a family, he is, at the same time, trying to roll back immigration policies that protect New Yorkers.”
Lopez, whose organization has over 28,000 members and community centers in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, and Westchester County, continued, “This city will never feel safe if our immigrant neighbors are afraid that they will be swept up in a raid and never see their loved ones again on their way to work, school, or church.”
He stated to CMC media, “We need Mayor Adams to show real leadership in protecting our families instead of feeding immigrant New Yorkers to Trump’s mass deportation plan.”
After what he called “a productive initial conversation” with U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, and Biden Administration Homeland Security official Kenneth Genalo, Adams shortly thereafter revealed a set of proposals that he said would protect longtime New Yorkers, as well as Caribbean and other immigrants and asylum seekers, from violent, repeat offenders.
The proposal, according to Adams, follows New York City’s expenditure of over US$6.65 billion “with little to no help from the federal government” to offer shelter and various services to the more than 225,000 Caribbean and other migrants who have traveled from the southern border to New York City over the previous two or more years.
Immigration activists claim that Haitian, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan nationals make up a large portion of the migrants coming to New York City from the southern border. In addition to continuing to support bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform, which includes a national resettlement strategy, Adams said the proposals will be updated and informed in cooperation with law enforcement, advocates, the immigrant community, and partners in the local, state, and federal governments.
According to the mayor, the proposals also include starting an awareness campaign to dispel false information and to reassure Caribbean and other immigrants and asylum seekers that they can continue to feel secure using public services like public schools, hospitals, and public safety organizations.
