After the mayor’s recent proposal to change the city’s sanctuary policy pertaining to migrants, the Democrats on the city council took a stand against his plans, nixing the proposed legislation.
On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams called for a change in the current policy, which considerably limits communication between local and federal governments, claiming he believes the city should cooperate more with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to potentially deport migrants “suspected” of carrying out “serious” crimes.
In response, the ruling Democrats on the council rejected the mayor’s proposed changes, asserting it would be a step in the wrong direction for migrant legislation.
Some local Republicans reacted to the Democrats’ rejection of changes by stating that they are “out of touch.”
Democratic Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called the mayor’s suggestion “harmful” on Wednesday, and said lawmakers had no intentions of making changes to the law.
“We are not considering changes to laws. These laws have been in effect for decades,” she said during a press conference at City Hall. “I think that it would be harmful to retract and go backwards instead of going forward as far as the law is concerned.”
Council Minority Leader, Joseph Borelli (R-SI), spoke out about his disagreement with the decision, “It is a privilege to go through our justice system, even in this country. And if you don’t have a right to be here, and you’re not following our laws, we don’t have to avail you of those privileges.”
“Even those New Yorkers who prefer we be a welcoming sanctuary city are willing to say enough is enough when people are here committing repeated and violent crimes,” he added.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who is also a Staten Island Republican, agreed with Borelli: “If the City Council won’t repeal, it just reaffirms how radical and out of touch they are.”
Existing law prohibits the city from cooperating with federal immigration authorities if a migrant or asylum seeker has been charged with a crime but not convicted, which was enacted during former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s time in office.
