President-elect Donald Trump's incoming border czar has told New York City officials that ICE will not hesitate to increase its presence in the Big Apple if sanctuary cities do not cooperate with federal immigration law enforcement.
“If you're not going to help us, get out of our way,'' said Tom Homan, who agrees to help deport immigrants, even if their leaders have committed crimes. It appealed to reluctant cities like New York.
“If we don't get help from New York City, we may have to double the number of agents. Send it to me,''' Homan said on Fox News' “Fox & Friends” Monday morning.
He argued that current policies are having a negative impact on everyone involved, warning: “We're going to get the job done with you and without you.”
“It's much easier to arrest the bad guys in jail. Give us access to Rikers Island, where we were kicked out. Let's put the bad guys in jail. It’s also safer for society,” he said.
Homas also pointed out that city prosecutors are releasing criminals with little or no bail, creating unnecessary risk.
“If you release bad guys into the community, we have to go find them. That puts our officers and the community at risk,” he said.
“The bottom line is that sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals.”
In a statement, Mayor Eric Adams urged Democrats and Republicans to work together on immigration reform to fix the immigration system, saying, “It's important for Americans and for the immigrants who come here for an opportunity to build a better society. It's the best thing,” he added. Why not take on the challenge of living the American dream for the rest of your life? ”
Adams signaled last week that he would work with the incoming Trump administration on the immigration crisis, but insisted Gotham would remain a sanctuary city.
However, a City Hall spokesperson acknowledged that under New York City's existing law, “we do not provide information about illegal aliens to the federal government.”
Sanctuary city laws limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York state law changed to prohibit police officers from cooperating with some, but not all, detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It was done.
The amendment remains a thorn in the side of police officers to this day, police unions told the Post.
“Just as we are not judges and juries, police officers do not have the right to choose what crimes we commit,” said the 13,000-member NYPD. said Vincent Vallelong, president of the Sergeants' Benevolent Association.
“Misguided politicians need to step back and allow all facets of law enforcement to work together to ensure that criminals who enter our country illegally are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” said.
“Failure to do so is a recipe for criminal disorder and is unfair to all law-abiding members of society.”
New York City PBA President Patrick Hendry noted the continuing “epidemic of assaults” against New York's Finest, adding that those who commit such crimes illegally within the country are subject to prison terms, followed by immediate He said he must be deported.
“We need our federal partners to continue their work protecting the people who protect New Yorkers” to ensure the department has the resources it needs.
A law enforcement official familiar with joint local federal investigations praised Homan as a “great asset” to the Trump administration.
“He will handle this crisis tough and fairly,” he told the Post.
Meanwhile, uniformed police officers who have been bearing the brunt of a sharp increase in crime due to the surge of more than 210,000 asylum seekers since spring 2022 have also welcomed the crackdown promised to be introduced during the Homan era.
“Crime in Midtown will definitely go down and it will help businesses and the tourism industry in the area,” one Manhattan police officer told the Post.
“If you deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, it's going to be a pretty desolate stretch of Roosevelt Avenue,” Queens officials added, referring to the notoriously crime-ridden area. happy. “
