In response to Mayor Eric Adams’ latest directive that shelter staff cooperate with visiting federal immigration agents if they “reasonably feel threatened,” lawmakers and groups in latest York City are protesting.
The new guidelines, which City Hall sent to shelter providers in a memo on January 13, instructed employees at nonprofit-run migrant shelters and other city-affiliated institutions to cooperate with visiting federal immigration agents if they ever fear for their safety or the protection of others. Lawmakers and immigration groups said that the decision violates the city’s sanctuary principles by allowing ICE to access shelters.
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The memo noted, “If, at any time, you reasonably feel threatened or fear for your 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.”
First published by local publication Hell Gate, the policy deviates from earlier directives that emphasized these safeguards, which prohibit the use of city employees and assets to support federal immigration enforcement.
New York Working Families Party co-director Ana Maria Archila claimed the policy change will encourage federal agents to be more assertive in their approach at a rally opposing the recent action.
Archila claimed, “Eric Adams sent a guidance to city workers encouraging them to give away the power that the law has granted them.” Adding, “Encouraging ICE officers to be aggressive, to intimidate our city workers.”
Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the chancellor of the Department of Education, published a social media message encouraging parents to keep their kids in school.
“We unequivocally stand with all children in our city regardless of immigration status,” Aviles-Ramos noted.
Ramos further mentioned, “We want to be very clear, our policies have not changed, as always non-local law enforcement is not permitted in any of our schools buildings without a judicial warrant or unless there are exigent circumstances.”
We firmly support every child in our community, regardless of their immigration status.
In a prior statement, City Hall spokesman Kayla Mamelak stated that while the city was offering guidelines on how to manage ICE visits to shelters or other public locations, it was not directing staff to automatically assist federal law enforcement. She urged workers not to obstruct law enforcement if they persist in their actions, saying the city was putting employee and caretakers’ safety first.
Mamelak stated, “Let’s be very clear: anyone perpetuating the claim that New York City is instructing city employees to simply open doors for federal law enforcement, including ICE, is spreading misinformation that only fuels anxiety within immigrant communities and our city’s workforce.” Mamelak continued, “The legal guidance sent out on January 13th outlines a series of steps for city workers on how to respond to non-local law enforcement attempting to enter city property.”
She further noted, “This includes asking for an agent’s credentials, asking for a warrant, and contacting the agency’s general counsel. Prior to and following the issuance of this guidance, we had been in constant communication with our city agencies, where we discussed numerous hypotheticals, including if law enforcement were to be in pursuit of a violent criminal, and used this guidance to inform how to respond.”
Amid speculation about a possible pardon for the mayor, who is the subject of many investigations, critics accused Adams of “cozying up” to President Donald Trump.
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of New York Immigration Coalition Action, stated in a statement, “It’s clear, Mayor Eric Adams does not respect our laws.”
“It’s one thing for Adams to waffle on his commitment to New York City’s sanctuary policies while cozying up to Trump. It’s entirely another when he sanctions his agency staff and City employees to completely disregard those same local laws when it suits them.”
In an interview with WABC’s “Tiempo,” Adams advised immigrants in NYC not to allow “rumors” of ICE raids to scare them or disrupt their everyday routines.
“We’re hearing over and over rumors of ICE raiding schools, didn’t happen. We’re hearing over and over again, ICE raiding shelters, didn’t happen. And so we have to ask ourselves, who’s feeding the hysteria?” he explained. “My message has been clear: students go to school. If you need medical care, go to the hospital. If you’re the victim of a crime, go to report to the law enforcement entity.”
City workers cannot “get in the way” of federal agents looking for criminals, Adams added.
Adam stated, “If an ICE officer responds to go after a person who committed a serious crime and they’re there and others are there that are undocumented, they’re going to carry out, they have the responsibility to carry out their job as immigration officials.” He added, “I don’t determine that. And I cannot have any city employee that will get in the way of them carrying out their job as a federal authority.”
