Eric Adams’ first press briefing in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential victory last night was marked by concerns over the city’s future on many fronts. While commissioners and officials from various departments fielded questions on a host of issues, ranging from abortion access to water fluoridation, the topic of immigration remained salient throughout. In his opening remarks, Mayor Adams told reporters that the city plans to “protect our immigrant communities,” and when First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer followed up at the podium, she stated that New York City was to remain a “place of tolerance and respect,” and a “beacon of hope” for those who flock to it.
Commissioner of the Office of Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro found himself fielding multiple questions on the issue. Castro himself has benefited from protections in the DREAM Act, which grants conditional residency and the right to work to undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors, and eventually permanent residency if further conditions are met. Asked if he was concerned about DREAMers being deported, the Commissioner stated that city officials would continue to follow the city’s sanctuary laws, which limit what information can be shared about an immigrant unless it is a criminal matter. These rules were expanded under Mayor Bill De Blasio in 2014 and in 2018, further limiting cooperation of city officials with requests from ICE.
Castro emphasized that undocumented immigrants “do not need to self deport” or “hide in the shadows,” and that they should keep their children in city schools calling emergency services when needed without fear. “The biggest threat right now is the fear that’s setting in” for those communities, Castro concluded. Pressed further on what they plan to do specifically, both Castro and Adams referred back to the sanctuary laws on the city’s books.
Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his hard-line stance on the issue, telling the audience at the RNC in August that he plans to implement “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” A report from city Comptroller Brad Lander counts roughly half a million undocumented immigrants across the city. Eric Adams refused to answer whether he would cooperate with a federal mass deportation program in the city, stating only that he wanted to “see the federal government fix a federal problem.”
Other questions remain open in terms of how the city will interface with a second Trump administration. Torres-Springer told reporters that she would “advocate fiercely” for the city’s interests with the federal government, which contributes about $8 billion (or 7%) of the city’s budget for various projects, like rendering the city’s infrastructure more resilient to climate change. The idea that New York may need to brace for a harder time under Trump in this regard is well-founded, as numerous federal officials and politicians have claimed that during his first term, the former president and now president-elect frequently withheld relief funds for areas affected by natural disasters where the local population did not vote for him. New York City votes Democrat consistently, and could very possibly see another crippling disaster like Hurricane Sandy when Trump is back in office.
