New York City Mayor Eric Adams has raised the possibility of involving the incoming Trump administration in shaping changes to sanctuary city laws. Mayor Adams has been critical of local laws that restrict the city’s collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has hinted at the prospect of taking executive action to override these regulations.
The Role of the Trump Team
During an interview on FOX, the Democratic mayor mentioned that incoming border czar Tom Homan could influence the outcome. Mayor Adams and Homan met on Dec. 12 to discuss migrant-related issues.
Mayor Adams emphasized the shared belief that violent individuals should not be allowed to stay in the country. He indicated that there are existing city laws governing this issue and expressed his intent to consult with Homan’s team to explore the possibility of issuing an executive order.
Access to Rikers Island
One of the areas of discussion was providing ICE access to Rikers Island, a city jail facility that houses detainees awaiting trial. Current laws prevent the city from permitting ICE to utilize municipal facilities. Mayor Adams mentioned the need to review the exceptions outlined in the previous administration’s legislation.
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus clarified that the legal discussions between the teams aim to identify feasible ways to achieve common objectives. This does not necessarily imply that Homan will be directly involved in policy-making or the formulation of any potential executive orders.
