Advocates rally in New York City call on Mayor Eric Adams to do more to protect migrants
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Lawmakers and advocates rallied on the steps of City Hall on Thursday to call on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to do more to protect migrants and follow city sanctuary laws.
The rally comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office and as Adams has signaled he may be willing to work with the administration to enforce mass deportations.
On the steps of City Hall, many spoke about the need for local lawmakers to be on the same page with the inauguration just days away.
Participants say they want to be assured that Adams and the city plan to uphold laws designed to protect the immigrant population.
The mayor's recent meeting with incoming "border czar" Thomas Homan was met with criticism, along with Adams' recent comments about removing undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes.
"We do not, should not ,take part in Trump's extremist, xenophobic and racist agenda," said Councilwoman Alexa Avilés. "New York City says, no, we do not want to participate in that. Our city resources should be dedicated to New Yorkers, not to to push his agenda forward."
Members of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs and Asylum Seekers Operations testified about their work during a City Council hearing Thursday.
"Internally, MOIA has been working in partnership with the city's law department to ensure that that staff are thoroughly trained and fully understand the scope and meaning of New York City's local laws, including our sanctuary laws and, executive orders, city agencies and officers, including contractors and vendors, are generally prohibited from assisting immigration enforcement or utilizing city resources for such purposes," said MOIA Commissioner Manuel Castro.
Council members also discussed two resolutions to show support for state bills that would strengthen and reinforce laws currently in place.
One calls on state lawmakers to pass a bill that would bar state and local government agencies from working with ICE. The other urges the passage of a bill that guarantees immigrants attorneys for court hearings related to any removal proceedings.
Following his meeting with Homan, Adams said the two are on the same page in terms of what they want: to get violent criminals off the streets.
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