Mayor Adams testifies in front of Republican House Committee on sanctuary city status
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams, along with the mayors of Boston, Chicago and Denver, testified in front of Congress on how sanctuary cities have responded to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.
Adams came to Washington where he found himself on the defensive, testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability that New York is a Sanctuary City, where the rights of undocumented people are upheld
"Law abiding immigrants in New York have an important role, immigrant New Yorkers, including those who are undocumented, pay billions of dollars in taxes and contribute billions more in spending power to our economy," Adams said.
Republican Committee Chairman James Comer praised the mayor for his willingness to cooperate with immigration authorities, although the mayor acknowledged that such cooperation is limited by city law.
"I must create an atmosphere that allows every law abiding resident, documented or not, to access vital services without fear of being turned over to federal authorities," he said.
After his meeting last month with Trump Administration Border Czar Tom Homan, Mayor Adams has agreed to open Rikers Island to ICE agents and to include agents in criminal field operations.
But he made it clear Wednesday that civil enforcement of federal immigration laws is up to the federal government.
"City law makes it unlawful to collaborate with ICE for civil enforcement," he said. "We comply with all of these legal requirements and still manage the humanitarian crisis with the care and compassion, while at the same time bringing down crime, recovering our economy, and preventing any child from being forced to sleep on the streets."
Adams said New York City was hit with the largest humanitarian crisis in the city's history over the last three years. He said he can't have a city where parents are afraid to send their children to school or where an undocumented person refuses to seek medical care.
"Comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue, while the solution is not within my control, as a mayor, I am committed to working with federal officials - no matter who is president - to go after violent gangs and those who harm residents of our city," Adams said.
Adams' critics, including those running for mayor, say his desire to work with the White House is an effort to wriggle out of federal corruption charges.
The president's Justice Department directed prosecutors to drop corruption charges against the mayor, which prompted accusations of a quid pro quo agreement.
Also on Wednesday a federal judge denied the city's motion for a temporary restraining order requiring the Trump administration to return $80 million in clawed back FEMA migrant money.
The judge found the city has identified no irreparable harm. This means the city needs to wait for the case to make its way through the courts before any potential reimbursement.
ALSO READ | Immigrants fear Impact of President Trump's policies
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