Mayor Adams Wants to End New York City's Sanctuary Status, Triggering Fear and Outrage Among Communities

As immigration enforcement operations escalate across the state and country, Mayor Adams wants to roll back New York City’s sanctuary protections, gaining pushback from local and Albany lawmakers.

Mayor Eric Adams has recently expressed desire to modify local policies that protect undocumented immigrants, a dramatic departure from New York City's longstanding sanctuary city stance. At the same time, his growing alliance with President Donald Trump has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, with critics accusing him of abandoning the city’s values for personal and political gain.

Immigration enforcement arrest in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Photo Credit: John Moore / Getty Images

New York has long been known as a safe haven for immigrants. For decades, the city has limited how much it cooperates with federal immigration enforcement.

Mayor Eric Adams has recently expressed desire to modify local policies that protect undocumented immigrants, a dramatic departure from New York City's longstanding sanctuary city stance. At the same time, his growing alliance with President Donald Trump has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, with critics accusing him of abandoning the city’s values for personal and political gain.

In 1989, then-Mayor Ed Koch established policies to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. Over the years, these protections have expanded, preventing city agencies, like the New York Police Department (NYPD), from working closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The idea behind sanctuary city policies is that if immigrants feel safe, they are more likely to report crimes, seek medical care and contribute to their communities without fear of deportation.

Mayor Adams suggests it’s time for a change.

Arguing that the city’s current sanctuary policies go too far, Adams wants city officials to be able to work more closely with ICE, especially when dealing with people suspected of serious crimes.

"I want to go back to the standards of the previous mayors who I believe subscribed to my belief," said Mayor Adams. “People who are suspected of committing serious crimes in this city should be held accountable."

This is a significant shift from New York’s long-standing policies, which only allow cooperation with ICE when an individual has been convicted of a violent or serious crime, like assault and drug trafficking.

Immigrant advocates fear that relaxing these rules will lead to more coordination between local police and ICE, creating a climate of fear and distrust among immigrant communities.

"Allowing ICE enforcement to disrespect sensitive locations, like our schools, houses of worship, and healthcare facilities, disrupts the health of our communities and makes our city less safe," said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. "Our city government must do all it can to protect New Yorkers from the damage caused by the Trump Administration."

What makes Adams’ position even more controversial is his growing affinity with President Trump. Considered a moderate Democrat, Adams has been seen at multiple events with Trump allies and has praised some of the president’s policies.

Recently, Adams was invited to testify before Congress on the issue of sanctuary cities, a move that many see as part of Trump’s broader crackdown on immigration. The House Oversight Committee, now led by Trump-aligned Republicans, is investigating whether sanctuary cities actually make the country less safe and what pressures can be put on them to cooperate with federal enforcement, including a withdrawal of federal funding.

ICE has been conducting more arrests, particularly in upstate areas where some law enforcement officials support cooperation with federal agents.

In a high-profile case last week, ICE officers arrested a man in Ithaca, New York, after local officials refused to turn him over to federal agents. The Biden administration had previously placed limits on ICE’s operations, but the Trump administration is now aggressively pursuing mass deportations.

While Adams pushes for changes, lawmakers in Albany are moving in the opposite direction. A new bill called the New York For All Act aims to strengthen sanctuary policies by preventing state and local law enforcement from working with ICE in nearly all cases.

“It’s a public safety issue,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes, a supporter of the bill. “If immigrants feel like they can’t trust the police, they won’t report crimes. That makes us all less safe.”

Governor Hochul has been cautious about taking a definitive side on the legal issue, though recent statements suggest she's partial to Adams' approach.

“I'll be the first one to call up ICE," said Governor Hochul. “I don't want them here. I don't want anybody terrorizing my citizens.”

New York City stands at crossroads between its identity as a safe haven for immigrants and a city still struggling with crime and safety issues. The future of New York's sanctuary status hangs in the balance, with huge implications for its native-born and immigrant communities.

Stay tuned to The Borough Beat for updates as this story develops.