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New York’s prestige as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants has evolved over time. Today, as President-elect Donald J. Trump prepares to take office, the scenario could still change.
By Luis Ferré-Sadurni
So-called sanctuary laws enacted in hundreds of places across the United States, from big cities like Philadelphia and Chicago to rural counties in Nebraska and New Mexico, have become targets in the nation’s divisive immigration debate.
Democrats have long advocated legislation that restricts cooperation with federal immigration authorities as a way to create welcoming environments for undocumented immigrants. President-elect Donald J. Trump and Republicans say they are fueling crime and turning cities into an undocumented country.
Now, as Mr. Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, the future of the sanctuary movement is likely to take center stage, most notably in New York, a city that is home to more than 400,000 undocumented immigrants and has long cherished its reputation as a safe haven.
Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, is intent on changing the city’s sanctuary laws to allow his administration to work more closely with federal agents to deport criminals. But even as New Yorkers have signaled a greater appetite for a harder line on immigration as the city navigates a two-year migrant influx, many Democrats still oppose Mr. Adams’s stance.
As adjustments loom, here’s what you want to know about New York’s sanctuary laws.
The term “sanctuary city” is not a legal designation, but rather a catchall phrase to describe jurisdictions like New York that have adopted policies that afford some protection to undocumented immigrants against federal agents seeking to detain or deport them.
Sanctuary policies vary, but think of them as a wall that blocks communication between immigration officials and municipal workers who interact with undocumented immigrants. First, they were followed to inspire immigrants to report crimes, seek medical treatment, enroll in school, and use other municipal measures. facilities without worrying about being arrested.
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