Commit a crime, face deportation before serving time.
On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams signaled a shift in policy, expressing his openness to deport migrants who have been charged with crimes, without waiting for a conviction. This marks a departure from his earlier stance, where he advocated for waiting until after a conviction before deporting immigrant criminals.
Adams announced his intention to meet soon with President-elect Donald Trump’s new “border czar,” Tom Homan, to discuss the incoming administration’s approach to potentially deporting migrants accused of criminal activity.
“My position is people who commit crimes in our city, you have abdicated your right to be in our city and I am open to figure out the best way to address that,” he stated.
Referring to a recent case, he added, “You’ve got a guy, he’s on camera shooting at a police officer,” referencing Bernardo Castro Mata, a 19-year-old from Venezuela who entered the U.S. illegally and allegedly shot two NYPD officers.
“I don’t want that guy in my city, plain and simple,” Adams continued.
The mayor emphasized that individuals committing crimes such as robberies, shootings at police officers, and sexual assaults are a threat to the country. “Those who are here committing crimes, robberies shooting at police officers, raping innocent people, have been a harm to our country,” he said.
Adams also criticized progressive leaders who, in his view, have hesitated to take a firm stance on deporting immigrant criminals, especially in today’s “cancel culture.”
“Cancel me, because I’m going to protect the people of this city,” he declared.
The mayor’s hardline stance comes as New York City, a place long known for its immigrant population, faces the prospect of increased deportations and other aggressive measures promised by President Trump.
Tom Homan, who recently spoke to The NY Post, outlined his intentions to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities like New York and emphasized that local authorities would not be able to prevent federal deportation efforts.
“If we can’t get assistance from New York City, we may have to double the number of agents we send to New York City,” Homan stated on Fox & Friends last month. “Because we’re going to do the job with you or without you.”
Rather than oppose Homan and Trump, Adams extended an olive branch, suggesting that the 2024 election demonstrated a clear public desire for change in immigration and border policies.
“The American people heard it and voted for it,” Adams said, referring to Trump’s promises to strengthen border security.
Adams revealed that he spoke with Homan on Tuesday and plans to meet with the incoming border czar soon.
“I want to make clear I’m not going to warring with this administration, I’m going to be working with this administration,” he affirmed.
“I’d like to speak with our border czar and find out what his plans are. Where our common grounds are, we can work together,” he added.
As a former NYPD captain, Adams has historically played a delicate balancing act on immigration, even before Trump’s electoral victory. He has advocated for compassion toward the 200,000 migrants who have entered New York City in recent years, overseeing a significant expenditure of $6.4 billion for their food, shelter, and services.
However, Adams has also drawn a firm line when it comes to deporting undocumented immigrants who are law-abiding or have DACA status, such as Manuel Castro, his commissioner of immigrant affairs, who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as a child.
“Those people should not be rounded up in the middle of the night,” Adams stated. “These are people who love our country and they’re participating in our country.”
Despite his stance on these immigrants, Adams has called for a revision of the city’s sanctuary laws, particularly in cases involving migrants accused of serious crimes and when working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
When asked about his own criminal charges, Adams stressed that his situation is different from that of any migrant facing criminal accusations.
“First of all, I’m an American,” Adams explained, referring to his not guilty plea. “Americans have certain rights. The Constitution is for Americans and I’m not a person that snuck into this country. My ancestors have been here for a long time.”
{Matzav.com}