Elected officials, unions and community organizations across Queens have slammed Mayor Eric Adams in response to reports that the Mayor’s office distributed a memo to city agencies suggesting that they should let ICE agents enter municipal facilities without a warrant if staff “reasonably feel threatened” or fear for their safety.
The memo, sent by the Mayor to city agencies prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration, directs city employees to ask ICE agents for their name and badge number, ask for a warrant or subpoena, and call their agency’s counsel if federal immigration agents attempt to enter municipal facilities.
However, the memo also says that if “at any time” the employee feels threatened or fears for their safety or the safety of others, they should let ICE agents search the location, which could include city schools and shelters, or give them the information they are seeking.
Several immigration advocates and elected officials stated that the guidance appears to undercut New York City’s sanctuary city laws, which prohibit federal immigration authorities from entering city property without a warrant.
Adams Administration spokesperson Kayla Mumelak said in a statement that the Mayor’s office plans to clarify the meaning of the Jan. 13 memo shortly by offering further guidance to city workers.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation, and, as a result, we are in the process of finalizing further guidance for city workers to follow if they encounter federal law enforcement attempting to enter a building,” Mumelak told Politico in a statement on Friday.
Mamelak contended that anyone “perpetuating the claim” that New York City is encouraging municipal facilities to open their doors to ICE agents is “spreading misinformation that only fuels anxiety within immigrant communities.”
“The legal guidance sent out on January 13th outlines a series of steps for city workers on how to respond to non-local law enforcement attempting to enter city property. This includes asking for an agent’s credentials, asking for a warrant, and contacting the agency’s general counsel,” Mamelak said.
She said the safety of city employees is equally important as the safety of those in their care, noting that the mayor’s office wanted to make it clear to city workers that they should “not put themselves or those in our care in harm’s way by interfering with law enforcement if they persist.”
City Hall spokesperson Liz Garcia similarly contended in a statement to amNY that the guidance is simply designed to protect city employees from jeopardizing their safety. She also argued that those saying the city is instructing its workers to cooperate with ICE are spreading “misinformation” that “fuels anxiety within immigrant communities.”
Several Queens-based elected officials criticized the Mayor over the memo, describing the guidance as a violation of New York’s sanctuary laws and an attempt to curry favor from the Trump administration.
Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas said the memo “runs counter” to public safety, adding that it will discourage immigrants from reporting serious crimes or even accessing their schools, employment and basic essential services.
“This latest move by Mayor Adams to cozy up to Trump, Elon Musk, or whoever he thinks can get him a pardon is grotesque and in violation of the law,” González-Rojas said in a statement. “He may not have much regard for our sanctuary laws, but they are still the law, and he must abide by them.”
State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who is running against Adams in the 2025 mayoral elections, said the guidance issued in the memo is “unclear at best and actively harmful at worst.”
“I have child care centers and churches in my district that have received absolutely zero information from City Hall on how they should deal with ICE. It leaves immigrant communities with the feeling that the Adams Administration does not care to look out for us or keep our families whole,” Ramos said in a statement.
Manny Pastreich, president of the New York branch of services and construction workers union 32BJ SEIU, said he was “deeply troubled” by the memo issued by the Adams Administration, stating that the policy is “inhumane” and contravenes city laws.
Pastreich said the union represents more than 9,000 security personnel employed at city-run facilities through private contracts, adding that the guidance puts those security workers in an “impossible position.”
“Under this new guidance, our members will be put in an impossible situation of performing their duties of keeping shelter residents safe while the City gives them contradictory and unclear guidance. For example, the guidance directs employees and contractors to allow ICE into facilities if they “feel” “fear.” Our members should not be put in the position of having to make that decision,” Pastreich said.
Assembly Member Claire Valdez called on the Mayor to either stand up to the Trump Administration or step aside and allow someone who will serve as mayor.
“We are a city built by immigrants. We are a city that protects immigrants. We are not a city that sends deportation forces into hospitals, schools and workplaces to terrorize neighbors,” Valdez said.
“If all Eric Adams is good for is throwing our communities under the bus to save himself and his buddies, he should step aside and allow someone with the courage to stand up to the White House bully to serve as our mayor.”
