A slew of elected officials and social rights activists railed in Foley Square on Monday against recent ICE arrests and pointed the finger of blame at Mayor Eric Adams and the state government for allowing it to happen.
Brooklyn state Sen. Julia Salazar and other speakers at the June 2 rally did not mince words over the numerous ICE detainments made at Lower Manhattan’s immigration court in recent days. She expressed anger at Adams and other city officials for allowing the federal agency to make the arrests at a court that typically handles immigration matters for law-abiding newcomers.
“Just last week, ICE rounded up New Yorkers outside a courthouse around the corner from where we are standing right now. But instead of stepping up to protect immigrant New Yorkers, there are city and state officials who are actively helping ICE abduct our friends and family members,” Salazar said. “We have video footage of NYPD officers arresting anti-ICE protesters who are doing what our mayor is too cowardly and weak to do, which is to protect our fellow New Yorkers.”
Salazar went on to charge that she believes the recent arrests go beyond immigration enforcement and that the removals from immigration court are now a violation of constitutional rights, going as far as stating the government is “disappearing” people.
Two of Salazar’s colleagues from Brooklyn also slammed ICE and City Hall during Monday’s rally.
Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes argued that both the young and old alike are getting caught up in a game of politics.
“We are already traumatized. Our seniors are seeing what’s happening, our children are witnessing our inaction. Enough, no one is safe.. We had a federal staffer arrested. Wake up, wake up!” Mitaynes said.
Assembly Member Emily Gallagher went further still, alluding to the belief that the ICE arrests are down right racially motivated.
“The federal government is launching the most egregious, lawless attack on immigrants of color, because to be clear, we’ve seen how they behave differently when immigrants are white,” Gallagher said.
Despite the accusations, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s office told amNewYork that “the Adams administration has never — and will never — coordinate with the federal government on civil deportation matters, in accordance with local law.” The spokesperson also condemned the elected officials for implying collusion between City Hall and ICE, calling the suggestion “shameful.”
“It is shameful that elected leaders would try to capitalize on the immigrant community’s anxiety by misleading New Yorkers for political gain,” Adams’ spokesperson said. “Mayor Adams has also repeatedly stated that our city is less safe when people are afraid to use public resources and instead hide in the shadows. But, just like nearly 80% of New Yorkers, he believes we must go after violent criminals. His position has not changed.”
Along with venting frustration at City Hall, the June 2 rally at Foley Square also sought to drum up support for the implementation of the Dignity Not Detention Act and New York for All Bills. According to Salazar, these bills would greatly reduce the state’s ability to work with ICE and would stop prisons and hospitals from serving immigration detention.
Salazar, primary sponsor of the Dignity Not Detention Act (S.316) which is currently in committee, said the clock is running out this legislative session to have the bills clear the state Senate and Assembly and be brought to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk for her signature. The state Legislative session for 2025 ends on June 12, unless the governor calls it back into session for any reason.
“We have discussed and discussed and discussed these bills, and it is enough. It is time for us to act at the state level,” Salazar added. “History will judge us collectively for what we do or fail to do in this moment, it is beyond time.”
