By Chris Tobias | Editorial credit: Ron Adar / shutterstock.com
At his weekly Tuesday press briefing, Mayor Adams expressed on that he is open to the possibility of deporting migrants who are charged with crimes, not just those who are convicted. He argued that individuals who entered the country illegally should not have the same rights as U.S. citizens. When asked about how his own legal troubles might influence his views on immigration, Adams—currently facing federal felony corruption and bribery charges—stated that his rights as an American citizen differ from those of someone who “sneaks” into the country.
“I’m an American,” Adams said. “Americans have certain rights. The Constitution is for Americans, and I’m not a person that snuck into this country… What rights I have, the person who shoots a police officer should not have those same rights. That’s my position.”
While it’s true that constitutional rights like due process and legal counsel apply to everyone within the U.S., these rights are more limited in deportation proceedings. For example, there is no presumption of innocence in deportation cases. The conversation around rights and deportation has gained urgency since the election of Donald Trump, who focused heavily on curbing immigration during his presidency and advocated for mass deportations.
Under New York City’s sanctuary policies, local authorities are generally prohibited from cooperating with ICE detainer requests, except in cases involving serious or violent crimes. Adams, who has repeatedly called for changes to the city’s sanctuary policies, said he is open to collaborating with Trump’s new border czar to develop a plan for deporting those charged with serious crimes, such as shootings or rape.
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“In the era of cancel culture, no one is afraid to be honest about the truth,” Adams remarked. “Well, cancel me, because I’m going to protect the people of this city. If you come into this country and think you’re going to harm innocent New Yorkers, this is not the mayor you want to be in the city with.”
Adams’ comments were met with criticism from advocates and elected officials. Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, accused Adams of undermining immigrants’ constitutional rights and spreading misinformation about due process. “He is ripping a page from Trump’s playbook, stoking fear and spreading disinformation,” Awawdeh said. “The Mayor should understand the Constitutional rights of the people he serves.”
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams also condemned Adams’ remarks, arguing that they dehumanized immigrants and non-citizens. “With the looming danger of the Trump presidency, and the mayor choosing to mimic rather than condemn it, we have to stand together to defend both the New Yorkers who have little and the ones who have less,” Williams said.
Adams’ spokesperson, Kayla Mamelek, defended the mayor, noting that the city has been forced to manage the migrant crisis largely on its own. “While many sit on the sidelines and criticize, we had to make hard decisions and govern New Yorkers out of this crisis,” she said. “Anyone denying that this has meaningfully impacted our city is simply not living in reality.”
Adams first suggested rolling back sanctuary status in February, and has reiterated these points in the wake of the presidential election, though he has stated that he does not support mass deportations. He has called for a return to the standards of former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Ed Koch, when the city cooperated more with federal authorities, including by detaining immigrants for deportation.
“We should be able to address and coordinate with any entity when you’re dealing with those who commit crimes in our city,” Adams said on Tuesday, though he did not specify whether this would apply to all crimes or just certain types. “I’m looking forward to sitting down with the border czar and hearing his thoughts on that.”
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