Mayor Eric Adams memo says municipal workers, if scared, can relent to ICE
An ICE agent takes a person from the Dominican Republican into custody in New York City last month after President Donald Trump stepped up deportation efforts nationwide. Credit: Getty Images/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Mayor Eric Adams' office has granted New York City municipal workers latitude to relent to federal immigration agents, despite sanctuary city laws prohibiting almost all cooperation absent a judicial warrant, according to a directive.
The carve-out instructs workers who "reasonably feel threatened" to allow federal agents, who are searching for those in the United States illegally, into public schools, homeless shelters, hospitals and other city facilities and to provide information demanded by agents.
Under city law dating back over a decade, employees must refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcers and instead notify higher-ups.
But under Adams’ directive, which also instructs city hospital workers not to actively help a patient evade capture by immigration enforcers, there are new exceptions.
"If, at any time, you reasonably feel threatened or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, you should give the officer the information they have asked for ... or let them enter the site," according to the provision of the directive.
President Donald Trump has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in American history, and his border czar, Tom Homan, has threatened to prosecute sanctuary city officials who "knowingly harbor" those in the country illegally.
Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak declined Thursday evening to provide a copy of the directive, but she did not deny it had been issued.
"We are responsible for safeguarding the well-being of our city staff, which is why we have directed city employees not to put themselves in harm’s way during federal immigration enforcement interactions," she said in a text message. "Employees are advised to contact their legal counsel in such situations and to avoid verbal or physical altercations, as this could compromise their safety and hinder critical city services."
In a statement, the Legal Aid Society, which provided a copy of the memo, forecast that the revised rules would increase immigration arrests at city properties like shelters and hospitals. The rules are a "clear end run around New York City’s sanctuary laws and will deter individuals and families from accessing shelter, medical care, and other life-saving services."
"In announcing this significant retreat from the current law, the Mayor has given ICE and other federal law enforcement permission to use threats and intimidation against workers and all New Yorkers to achieve mass deportation," the statement said, calling on the directive to be revoked.
The city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, accused Adams of undercutting past directive and sidestepping city law: "City employees should not be put in harm’s way — and whatever its intent, this directive will encourage ICE to be even more violent and intimidating toward city workers and immigrant communities alike."
At an unrelated event Friday morning, Adams ignored reporters' questions about the directive.
Newsday reported in November that the Adams administration, pursuant to city law, had so far that year rejected 99% of federal immigration enforcers’ inquiries about immigrants who have been arrested, locked up or were otherwise under scrutiny by the city.
Since spring 2022, more than 220,000 foreign migrants have come to New York City, some bused by red states in protest of former President Joe Biden’s border policies. Adams at first welcomed migrants — literally — but became less hospitable as their numbers swelled. He has said he welcomed stricter immigration enforcement by the Trump administration against migrants accused of or convicted of crimes.
Adams, who is under federal indictment for corruption, has refused to criticize Trump publicly and has been praising him for months. Trump has said he is considering pardoning Adams, and his new staff at the U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly considering dropping the criminal case altogether.
Mayor Eric Adams' office has granted New York City municipal workers latitude to relent to federal immigration agents, despite sanctuary city laws prohibiting almost all cooperation absent a judicial warrant, according to a directive.
The carve-out instructs workers who "reasonably feel threatened" to allow federal agents, who are searching for those in the United States illegally, into public schools, homeless shelters, hospitals and other city facilities and to provide information demanded by agents.
Under city law dating back over a decade, employees must refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcers and instead notify higher-ups.
But under Adams’ directive, which also instructs city hospital workers not to actively help a patient evade capture by immigration enforcers, there are new exceptions.
"If, at any time, you reasonably feel threatened or fear for your safety or the safety of others around you, you should give the officer the information they have asked for ... or let them enter the site," according to the provision of the directive.
President Donald Trump has promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in American history, and his border czar, Tom Homan, has threatened to prosecute sanctuary city officials who "knowingly harbor" those in the country illegally.
Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak declined Thursday evening to provide a copy of the directive, but she did not deny it had been issued.
"We are responsible for safeguarding the well-being of our city staff, which is why we have directed city employees not to put themselves in harm’s way during federal immigration enforcement interactions," she said in a text message. "Employees are advised to contact their legal counsel in such situations and to avoid verbal or physical altercations, as this could compromise their safety and hinder critical city services."
In the days before Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, Mayor Eric Adams' office issued a directive for how to deal with law enforcement personnel pursuing people who are in the country illegally. Among the advice: relent if you feel unsafe. Credit: Legal Aid Society
In a statement, the Legal Aid Society, which provided a copy of the memo, forecast that the revised rules would increase immigration arrests at city properties like shelters and hospitals. The rules are a "clear end run around New York City’s sanctuary laws and will deter individuals and families from accessing shelter, medical care, and other life-saving services."
"In announcing this significant retreat from the current law, the Mayor has given ICE and other federal law enforcement permission to use threats and intimidation against workers and all New Yorkers to achieve mass deportation," the statement said, calling on the directive to be revoked.
The city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, accused Adams of undercutting past directive and sidestepping city law: "City employees should not be put in harm’s way — and whatever its intent, this directive will encourage ICE to be even more violent and intimidating toward city workers and immigrant communities alike."
At an unrelated event Friday morning, Adams ignored reporters' questions about the directive.
Newsday reported in November that the Adams administration, pursuant to city law, had so far that year rejected 99% of federal immigration enforcers’ inquiries about immigrants who have been arrested, locked up or were otherwise under scrutiny by the city.
Since spring 2022, more than 220,000 foreign migrants have come to New York City, some bused by red states in protest of former President Joe Biden’s border policies. Adams at first welcomed migrants — literally — but became less hospitable as their numbers swelled. He has said he welcomed stricter immigration enforcement by the Trump administration against migrants accused of or convicted of crimes.
Adams, who is under federal indictment for corruption, has refused to criticize Trump publicly and has been praising him for months. Trump has said he is considering pardoning Adams, and his new staff at the U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly considering dropping the criminal case altogether.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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