NYC mayor unveils plan to protect immigrants, New Yorkers from violent offenders

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a series of new proposals aimed at protecting longtime residents, immigrants, and asylum seekers from violent, repeat offenders.

The announcement follows a productive meeting with Tom Homan, the incoming “border czar,” and U.S. Department of Homeland Security official Kenneth Genalo. The proposals come at a time when New York City has spent over $6.65 billion in response to the arrival of more than 225,000 migrants in the past two years, with limited federal support.

The Mayor’s proposals, which will continue to evolve through collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, law enforcement, and the immigrant community, include advocating for bipartisan immigration reform, exploring processes to remove individuals convicted of major felonies and without legal status, and establishing a “Safe Communities Working Group” to recommend policies that ensure safety for both longtime New Yorkers and immigrants.

Additionally, the city plans to launch an awareness campaign to combat misinformation and encourage immigrants and asylum seekers to feel safe while engaging with essential services like public schools and hospitals.

“We are a city of immigrants, and we will always be true to those roots, but we also have to be honest and be clear that our immigration system is broken and a small number of repeat, violent offenders are taking advantage of that broken system,” said Mayor Adams. “It is a privilege to live in this incredible city — and the overwhelming majority of immigrants who came here know that, follow the law, and want to work as they seek the American Dream. But those who break the law and endanger others should be removed from our city after they have served jail time.”

A key topic discussed during the meeting was the alarming issue of 500,000 migrant children whose whereabouts are currently unknown. “We don’t know if these children are in school, if they are safe, or if they are being exploited,” Adams added. “We must find and protect these youth, and we must protect all those immigrants who contribute so much to our society, while ensuring accountability for those who break the law.”

In addition to holding violent offenders accountable, Mayor Adams is advocating for several key reforms, including a national resettlement strategy to better align asylum seekers with cities that have workforce shortages, securing federal funding for New York City’s efforts, and expediting work authorization for immigrants.

The Adams administration has also been a leader in assisting migrants, including the creation of the Asylum Application Help Center, which has helped nearly 87,000 applicants. More than 70 percent of eligible adults in the city’s care have either received or applied for work authorization, contributing to the city’s broader efforts to assist migrants in becoming self-sufficient.

Adams remains committed to supporting immigrants while ensuring that public safety remains a top priority. As the city continues to navigate the complexities of migration and immigration reform, the Mayor emphasized, “We will always fight to protect New York values and all those, including immigrants, who contribute so much to our society.”