Trump sanctuary city lawsuit highlights tension between Eric Adams and City Council on immigration

The Justice Department’s lawsuit accusing New York City leaders of thwarting the Trump administration’s enforcement of federal immigration law is intensifying the tension between the City Council and the Adams administration over the city’s so-called “sanctuary” policies. 

The cluster of laws – which together bar the city from cooperating with federal immigration authorities over civil immigration enforcement in most circumstances – is at the heart of the ongoing matter. These policies are the basis of the federal government's lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of New York Thursday. But while the complaint names both Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (no relation) among others as defendants, the two have clashed over the city’s sanctuary laws for months. That doesn’t seem likely to change now – even with this common foe.

A statement from the mayor’s administration following news of the lawsuit Thursday attested that while he continues to support “the essence” of the sanctuary city policies – that all immigrant New Yorkers should feel safe calling 911, going to school and seeking medical care regardless of their legal status – he also believes the City Council should modify the laws to more easily target immigrants that commit violent crimes.

“The job of a mayor is to protect the safety of every single person in their city – and that’s exactly what Mayor Adams has worked to do every day for nearly four years,” spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said. “But he has also been clear they go too far when it comes to dealing with those violent criminals on our streets and has urged the Council to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to make our city safer. So far, the Council has refused.”

Arguing that the city’s policies are unconstitutional and are essentially “intentional sabotage of federal immigration enforcement,” the lawsuit notes the mayor’s own frustration over the city’s sanctuary policies in multiple sections. In one example, it cites Mayor Adams describing a man arrested in 2023 for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman as “the poster child of what’s wrong” with the city not coordinating with federal immigration authorities. This came after the man was released – despite ICE (then led by the Biden administration) informing the city it intended to deport him – only to be rearrested for assaulting another woman. 

The lawsuit also favorably referenced Mayor Adams directing First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro to sign an executive order this spring intended to allow federal immigration officials to reestablish an office on Rikers Island to work with local officials on criminal investigations. “Despite some local officials’ efforts to use federal immigration resources to assist in keeping New Yorkers safe, the majority of local officials continue to thwart any association with federal immigration authorities whatsoever,” the lawsuit said, referencing the City Council suing to stop the controversial executive order. Siding with members who argued it would open the door for federal authorities to deport incarcerated immigrants, a state judge indefinitely blocked the office from being opened last month.

While Mayor Adams has publicly urged members to loosen the city’s sanctuary policies for months, the City Council isn’t pleased that the mayor is again pointing the finger at them – particularly in wake of a lawsuit targeting the entire city. The City Council – and many others including a federal judge – have alleged Mayor Adams entered into a quid pro quo agreement with the Trump administration to cooperate on immigration enforcement in exchange for dropping federal corruption charges against the mayor. Mayor Adams and the DOJ have both denied that dynamic exists.

"New York City's elected officials have a responsibility to protect our city and serve New Yorkers, not Trump's political agenda,” City Council spokesperson Rendy Desamours said in a statement Friday afternoon. “Like in other cities targeted by the Trump administration, we must be completely united in defending New York City against these frivolous legal attacks that seek to undermine our city and public safety," he continued. The City Council is currently working with the city corporation counsel to respond to the lawsuit, according to another council spokesperson.

Similar lawsuits taking aim at the city's sanctuary policies were filed in February against Illinois and Chicago. Four were filed against New Jersey’s largest cities in May and another against Los Angeles in June.

The mayor reiterated his position during an interview with Fox5 Friday morning, saying that if someone commits a violent act – like in the shooting of an off-duty Customs and Border Patrol agent in Manhattan last weekend – the city should be able to coordinate with federal authorities. That particular incident, which was cited in the lawsuit, has heavily fueled tensions between the city and the Trump administration over the city’s sanctuary policies. According to the federal government, the two men arrested in connection to the shooting had entered the country illegally. Each had lengthy criminal records. The lawsuit underscores the precarious political line Mayor Adams, who has cultivated a relationship with President Donald Trump, is trying to thread. It also comes in wake of the mayor sending a letter to the Trump administration expressing concern over conditions for immigrants detained at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. 

“I've said it over and over again. The City Council was clear on their position when it comes down to these laws,” Mayor Adams said when asked whether he could lean harder on members. “I could only continue to articulate why it's important to make that modification when someone commits a dangerous crime, and I've made it clear over and over again.”

It’s difficult to imagine the City Council changing course. Responding to a reporter’s tweet that detailed the mayor’s plea that the City Council make changes to the city’s sanctuary city laws to appease the Trump administration, Finance Committee Chair Justin Brannan had a simple retort. 

“LOL k,” he wrote.