New York, NY—Today, Mayor Eric Adams is scheduled to meet with Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s nominee for border czar, to discuss key immigration issues, including the management of asylum seekers, the potential establishment of deportation centers, and New York City’s longstanding sanctuary city policies.
Adams’ decision to meet with Homan comes amid increasing concerns that he may be trying to align himself with Trump, his administration, and the GOP while navigating his own legal challenges.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“It’s despicable that Mayor Adams continues to shirk his responsibilities to uphold New York City’s existing policies and values as a sanctuary city by collaborating with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan. New Yorkers know that under Homan ICE will be used to divide us, cruelly targeting and demonizing immigrants, while making every New Yorker even more unsafe. Too many of us remember the gunfire and street brawl that took place as a result of ICE’s actions in a residential Brooklyn neighborhood, in 2020, which resulted in an immigrant New Yorker being shot in the face. Targeting immigrants for arrests and deportation is destructive and diverts resources away from initiatives that actually promote safety and well-being. Mayor Adams has an obligation to every New York family to maintain our public safety by refusing to participate in ICE’s cruel, politicized immigration agenda. Study after study shows that cities with large immigrant populations are safer than those with fewer immigrants, and places with sanctuary policies have lower crime rates. Adams is clearly prioritizing his own political self-interest over the needs and the public safety of all New Yorkers.”