New York City Mayor Eric Adams struck a controversial chord Thursday after meeting with incoming border czar Tom Homan, signaling an alignment on cracking down against violent criminals within the city’s migrant population.
With the Trump administration set to take office, the meeting between Adams and Homan hinted at an unusual partnership as both leaders voiced a shared commitment to public safety, even as their approach stirs significant backlash.
Adams emphasized his stance: New York City, despite its sanctuary status, would not shield individuals—citizens or undocumented immigrants—who engage in repeated violent crimes. "We’re not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes," Adams said. His remarks reflect his broader position on balancing the city’s historic sanctuary policies with the urgent demands of public safety amid a migrant surge that has stressed local resources.
🚨New York Mayor Adams DESTROYS the press:
"I'm going to answer a few questions and then I am leaving because it's not going to matter what I respond to anyway, you have your preconceived thoughts already."
pic.twitter.com/5ITlvj2RDj— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 12, 2024
The cooperation Adams pledged with Homan—known for his tough rhetoric on immigration enforcement—marks a sharp pivot from the positions held by many Democratic mayors.
Homan, who is poised to implement President-elect Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda, has repeatedly warned sanctuary cities to work with ICE or face consequences. During the meeting, Adams said he was encouraged by Homan’s focus on violent criminals, indicating a shared goal of targeting those who endanger the community.
This collaboration comes as New York grapples with the aftermath of receiving over 225,000 migrants since 2022, a surge compounded by Texas’s strategy of bussing migrants to sanctuary cities. Adams announced plans to close 25 shelters in response to declining arrivals, an effort to streamline the city’s strained migrant housing network.
Adams’ stance has drawn sharp criticism from immigrant advocates, including Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition, who accused him of betraying sanctuary city principles. “It’s despicable that Mayor Adams continues to shirk his responsibilities,” Awawdeh said, expressing outrage over what activists view as Adams’ willingness to collaborate with an administration intent on mass deportations.
Adams pushed back against accusations of hypocrisy, defending his position as consistent with his responsibility to protect all New Yorkers. The city currently allows ICE collaboration in cases involving 170 specific crimes, but Adams suggested he might expand those parameters through executive orders if necessary. "If pursuing safety for New Yorkers demonizes me, then so be it," he said, reaffirming his commitment to both immigrant advocacy and public safety.