New York reaches out to Trump: Mayor seeks to change laws to make deportation easier
New York reaches out to Trump: Mayor seeks to change laws to make deportation easier . The Democrat’s effort to overturn a rule that has guaranteed shelter since the 1980s highlights his shift to the right, in line with the incoming Republican administration
EL PAÍS América
New York Mayor Eric Adams is considering changing laws that make the city a safe haven for migrants by executive order. Since the re-election of Republican Donald Trump, Adams — a moderate centrist within the Democratic Party — has visibly shifted to the right. This change is attributed to his frustration with managing the ongoing migration crisis, which began in the spring of 2022. During that time, buses of migrants were sent to New York City and other Democratic strongholds — such as Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and Boston — by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, in a bid to pressure the Democratic administration in Washington.

Last week, Adams controversially stated that convicted immigrants have no rights because “the Constitution is for Americans.” Over the weekend, he escalated the rhetoric by explicitly suggesting — an idea rumored to have been under consideration at City Hall for months — that he may seek to modify the city’s longstanding sanctuary laws, established in the 1980s. These changes would allow local law enforcement to collaborate more closely with federal immigration authorities to detain and deport “dangerous” immigrants, including those with criminal records or outstanding deportation orders. To achieve this, Adams indicated he might issue an executive order, circumventing the Democratic-majority City Council.

Adams — who is at a political low point following corruption charges brought against him in September — also met on Thursday with Thomas Homan, the incoming administration’s so-called “border czar.” The meeting aims to discuss the federal government’s immigration policy plans for New York City and explore potential collaboration between the two administrations.

Adams — a former police officer who made law and order the bedrock of his campaign platform — has said that his position on immigration stems from concerns about public safety, and is supported by many New Yorkers. A series of violent incidents involving immigrants in recent months has further fueled his rhetoric. “People are saying, okay, after the president-elect [Donald Trump] is coming in, Eric is now saying different things,” he remarked, referring to himself in the third person during a television interview on Sunday. “No, I was saying this prior to the election. I was saying those who are committing crimes in our city must be addressed.”

Analysts suggest that the growing perception of insecurity on New York’s streets and subway system, coupled with the political fallout from his recent indictment, may have influenced Adams’ shift in strategy. Last week, he did not rule out the possibility of running in next year’s municipal elections as a Republican — a prospect he firmly denied on Monday, reiterating his intention to remain a Democrat. However, his overtures to Republicans are increasingly apparent, exemplified by his criticism of President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.

Closure of two camps

Adams’ rhetoric on immigration has hardened in tandem with the increasing number of arrivals, which have now surpassed 220,000. The city has allocated more than $6 billion to shelter the migrants, fueling the mayor’s frustration with what he perceives as inadequate support and financial aid from the Biden administration. Despite his combative stance, Adams has avoided addressing the future of undocumented immigrants residing in the city’s network of 250 shelters, provided they have no criminal records or pending legal issues.

The imminent closure of the encampment on Randall’s Island in February — once the largest in the city — along with facilities on federal land in Brooklyn housing approximately 2,000 people, has heightened fears that the mayor’s office will turn its back on migrants. The shutdown of the Floyd Bennett Field camp, located in a remote area of Brooklyn, is reportedly a preemptive move by the city council. Officials fear that the Trump administration, upon taking office, could terminate the lease or target the site for one of its planned immigration raids. The camp, the only shelter on federal land in the city, has housed immigrant families with children since November of last year under a lease agreement signed with the Biden administration at the height of the migration crisis.

These are not the only shelters slated for closure. After a steady decline in migrant arrivals over the past five months, the city has announced plans to shut down 25 shelters, including several hotels, two university dormitories in Upper Manhattan, and a warehouse-turned-shelter near J.F. Kennedy Airport. Additionally, 10 hotels in upstate New York, previously used to house migrants, are set to be vacated.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition
España
Noticias de última hora de América Latina, México, Estados Unidos y la actualidad internacional: política, economía, deportes, cultura, sociedad, tecnología, gente, opinión, viajes, moda, televisión, los blogs y las firmas de EL PAÍS. Además especiales, vídeos, fotos, audios, gráficos, entrevistas y todos los servicios de EL PAÍS.
https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/M3RPYFJ5GNBTNC2PNF7QONFQYU.jpg?auth=497f7e2e2bb465f6d6fb09747d97656ccca9291067a2e71ac2a90e1163a62e06
https://english.elpais.com/usa/2024-12-13/new-york-reaches-out-to-trump-mayor-seeks-to-change-laws-to-make-deportation-easier.html
2024-12-13
rss
The Democrat’s effort to overturn a rule that has guaranteed shelter since the 1980s highlights his shift to the right, in line with the incoming Republican administration
New York reaches out to Trump: Mayor seeks to change laws to make deportation easier