New York City voters will not have a say on whether a set of laws protecting criminal illegal immigrants should remain, all but ensuring that the Big Apple's controversial sanctuary city law will remain in place.
Announced by the New York City Charter Revision Commission Reports This week, the commission revealed what referendums will be on the city's November ballot, but despite lobbying from City Council moderates and support from Mayor Eric Adams, the commission opted not to include a referendum to repeal a law that severely limits the power of federal immigration authorities to arrest illegal immigrants for criminal offenses. (Related: ICE says 'sanctuary' counties repeatedly ignored detention orders for Latino street gang member convicted of manslaughter)
“The Committee has heard numerous testimony urging the Committee to recommend an amendment to change so-called 'sanctuary city' laws, a term often used to refer to policies regarding information sharing and cooperation between city and federal authorities,” the committee's report states. “Given the repeated executive and legislative actions in this area, judicial interpretations of related state laws, and the ongoing and fluid challenges posed by the influx of newcomers to the City, the Committee believes that a ballot issue regarding this important area is not appropriate at this time.”
The committee's decision was not well received by moderate members of the New York City Council, who had hoped that the referendum would finally repeal the city's laws protecting criminal illegal immigrants.
NEW YORK – MAY 11: Special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) escort a Mexican gang member to court after he was arrested in New York City on May 11, 2005. (Photo by Robert Nickelsburg/Getty Images)
“From what I know now, the referendum has failed,” Republican City Councilwoman Vicki Paladino said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “It's disappointing, but not surprising, that the Charter Commission would not listen to residents on such a vitally important issue.”
Paladino is a member of the New York City Council's Common Sense Caucus, a bipartisan group of nine moderate lawmakers who publicly called for reform after a series of high-profile crimes blamed on illegal immigrants in the city.
Last month, the Common Sense Caucus introduced a bill that would repeal the NYPD's ban on cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which, if passed, would also repeal laws that prohibit city agencies from partnering with ICE agents to enforce federal immigration law and from using city resources to assist deportation officers.
The bill specifically takes aim at sanctuary laws passed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who signed the bill into law. In 2014 This resulted in restrictions and guidelines being put in place for the NYPD to work with ICE agents. 2018 It doubled down on the policy.
Announcing the sanctuary city proposal, opponents of sanctuary cities said reform was needed because “we have enough criminals in our city,” adding that illegal immigrants who commit crimes “should be deported without hesitation.”
Mayor Adams gave the effort a major boost earlier this month when he voiced his support for the sanctuary law reform movement. At the time, the Democratic mayor said the de Blasio administration had “made a big mistake.”
Adam's support for reform appears to be genuine, as an ICE spokesman confirmed in May that the mayor's office and federal immigration officials were at the negotiating table, with both sides discussing how to get around the city's strict sanctuary laws.
But a bill seeking to repeal New York's sanctuary laws was not expected to make it through the liberal, Democratic-controlled City Council, even though it touted the support of the mayor and other Democratic leaders. Opponents of sanctuary cities pinned their hopes on a fledgling commission established in 2009. 2 months ago From the Mayor's Office.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 11, 2024: New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives at City Hall for a press conference in front of an Alexander Hamilton painting. A grand jury is reportedly currently considering evidence in a federal corruption investigation into Mayor Eric Adams' 2021 campaign fundraising. (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)
The Charter Revision Commission analyzed the immediate issues facing the city, listened to public input, and ultimately determined what referendum to put directly to voters in the upcoming November election. The Common Sense Caucus has been lobbying the commission to give New York City voters a say on whether to keep the sanctuary law in place.
But the commission ultimately decided not to give voters a choice.
“In fact, our city's sanctuary city status is so unpopular even among Democrats that it would almost certainly be rejected by voters if allowed,” Paladino told DCNF, “but once again, the party that preaches to us about 'democracy' has no interest in actually practicing it.”
“The fact is, Democrats are totally committed to open borders and all the chaos that comes with it, and will never approve any measures that would allow for immigration enforcement, no matter how bad the situation gets or what the voters actually want. Don't get me wrong, if they thought New York City voters would support the law, the referendum would be on the ballot in a big way.” (Related article: Sanctuary cities crack down on shelter programs after rolling out the red carpet for illegal immigrants)
Paladino wasn't the only moderate lawmaker to criticize the committee's decision.
Councilman Robert Holden, a Democrat and caucus co-chair, said in a statement provided to the DCNF that the commission missed a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to correct “flaws” in the city's conservation laws. Holden also seemed to suggest that the commission actually had no interest in giving voters a choice on the issue at all.
“It was a huge mistake not to put this measure on the ballot at a time when our borders are vulnerable and terrorists are coming in. This was all a sham show,” the Democrat said, adding that he had requested all written comments and testimony on the proposed referendum from the committee and that his office was investigating the matter.
The commission's decision comes at an extremely difficult time for the city as it deals with an ongoing immigration crisis.
More than 208,000 migrants have flooded into New York City since the crisis began, causing an “explosion” in the city's shelter population and taxpayer spending, the committee said. Unique Reports I agree. The city is looking forward to More than $12 billion will be spent on crisis management by 2025.
The New York City immigration crisis has been fuelled by the arrest of Bernardo Raul Castro Mata for shooting two NYPD officers during a foot pursuit; Rape allegation Another illegal immigrant held a 13-year-old girl at knifepoint.
The city has also been the recipient of busloads of migrants sent by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, whose office has vowed to continue the effort until the White House properly addresses the border crisis. Adams tried to move many of the migrants to other parts of the state last year, angering local leaders who didn't want to welcome them back to their hometowns.
But at least some supporters of the anti-sanctuary bill remain hopeful: The fight to repeal the law will continue.
“Abolishing sanctuary cities is unlikely to be on the ballot this year,” Republican City Councilman David Carr told DCNF. “That doesn't mean it'll never happen, but the Charter Revision Commission is clearly missing an opportunity to restore public safety by allowing local enforcement agencies to collaborate with federal immigration authorities.”
“This is unfortunate, but my colleagues and I will continue to fight to repeal these absurd and dangerous laws,” Carr said.
Adams' office did not respond to a request for comment from the DCNF.
As an independent, nonpartisan news service, all content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher with a large readership. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and affiliation with the DCNF. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
