A New York City Democrat has urged top city and state officials to repeal sanctuary laws that protect undocumented immigrants, claiming such policies could harm New Yorkers. His demand follows a warning from Donald Trump's reinstated border czar, who vowed to deploy "double the number of [ICE] agents" to New York and other sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities.
Democrat Calls for Repeal of Sanctuary Laws in New York
According to the New York Post, Queens Councilman Robert Holden wrote a letter to multiple city and state leaders—including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul— demanding they ditch sanctuary laws, citing the unlawfulness of such policies.
"I write with grave concern about the continued impact of New York's sanctuary state and city policies, which not only violate [federal law] but also put New Yorkers in harm's way," he wrote. "Federal statute explicitly prohibits the harboring, shielding, or concealing of illegal aliens, particularly those engaged in criminal activities."
Shielding criminals who shouldn’t be here from federal law enforcement is a violation of federal law. New York must stop being a sanctuary city and state. We have enough crime here—why import more?
— Robert Holden (@BobHoldenNYC) November 24, 2024
It’s time for elected officials to listen to the people. https://t.co/6Iy9Hrg8NB
Holden's Efforts Against Sanctuary Policies
Over the summer, Holden co-sponsored legislation with Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) to repeal local and state-level sanctuary laws, with no success. In his letter, he encouraged New York's top lawmakers to review the stalled legislation and consider backing it.
The moderate Democrat claims sanctuary policies "shield criminals" and make jurisdictions less safe. We pay for illegal criminals to victimize us, and our state and local governments double down by shielding them from deportation with sanctuary policies," he wrote on X. " ICE needs real partners in government to keep people safe."
Holden is one of the first Democrats to publicly oppose sanctuary policies, taking a stand against top Democratic leaders nationwide who are working to "Trump-proof" their states ahead of January 21. Although Holden represents a minority viewpoint within his party, political analysts have observed a conservative shift among Democratic candidates in this election cycle, with an increasing number of party leaders adopting more moderate or conservative stances on immigration.
Federal Pressure on Sanctuary Jurisdictions
The Democrat explained he was inspired by Thomas Homan's recent appearance on Fox & Friends, during which the returning border czar explained, "It is a felony to harbor and conceal illegal aliens from [ICE]." Homan also warned lawmakers to not "cross the line" as they could face serious consequences such as "double the number of [ICE] agents" and possible economic sanctions from the federal government. "We're going to do the job without you or with you," he said.
In a separate interview, Homan told the New York Post that he hopes Trump sues sanctuary jurisdictions and "withholds federal funding" from them, adding that his deportation goals would be much easier to achieve with the cooperation of local law enforcement.
What Does Sanctuary Status Entail?
Sanctuary jurisdictions discourage local law enforcement from apprehending or reporting undocumented immigrants to ICE unless they are involved in a serious crime. Although federal and state agents can still enforce federal immigration policies that lead to detention and deportation in sanctuary cities, their job is much more complicated without local support.
Supporters of sanctuary policies argue that cooperating with ICE diverts resources from addressing serious crime and jeopardizes community safety. Others claim sanctuary policies make cities safer because they encourage migrant communities to collaborate with law enforcement without fearing deportation.
Sanctuary Jurisdictions Across the U.S.
As of November, sanctuary policies are in place across 13 states, including New York, California, Colorado, and Illinois, as well as the District of Columbia, per the Center for Immigration Studies. Additionally, around 215 cities and counties have adopted similar measures. Major cities like Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta are among those offering a "haven" to undocumented migrants.
Preparing for Trump's Return to Power
As Trump's return to the White House gets closer, migrant advocates across the country have been pressuring local and state entities to provide legal protections for undocumented residents within their jurisdictions.
State leaders in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Massachusetts have recently acknowledged the likelihood of significant federal pressure while pledging to protect their immigrant communities. A Massachusetts mayor recently voiced concern about her city's sanctuary status, fearing it could backfire and make her jurisdiction a target for "hateful acts."
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