A slew of elected officers and social rights activists railed in Foley Sq. on Monday in opposition to latest ICE arrests and pointed the finger of blame at Mayor Eric Adams for permitting it to occur.
Picture by Dean Moses
A slew of elected officers and social rights activists railed in Foley Sq. on Monday in opposition to latest ICE arrests and pointed the finger of blame at Mayor Eric Adams for permitting it to occur.
Brooklyn state Sen. Julia Salazar and different audio system on the June 2 rally didn’t mince phrases over the quite a few ICE detainments made at Decrease Manhattan’s immigration courtroom in latest days. She expressed anger at Adams and different metropolis officers for permitting the federal company to make the arrests at a courtroom that sometimes handles immigration issues 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 mentioned. “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 cost that she believes the latest arrests transcend immigration enforcement and that the removals from immigration courtroom at the moment are a violation of constitutional rights, going so far as stating the federal government is “disappearing” individuals.
Senator Julia Salazar and fellow fuming audio system didn’t mince phrases on June 2. The politician pushed again in opposition to the rising ICE detainments in Decrease Manhattan’s immigration courtroom and took purpose at Mayor Adams within the course of.Picture by Dean Moses 
A slew of elected officers and social rights activists railed in Foley Sq. on Monday in opposition to latest ICE arrests and Mayor Eric Adams for permitting it to occur.Picture by Dean Moses
Two of Salazar’s colleagues from Brooklyn additionally slammed ICE and Metropolis Corridor throughout Monday’s rally.
Meeting Member Marcela Mitaynes argued that each the younger and previous alike are getting caught up in a sport 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 mentioned.
Meeting Member Emily Gallagher went additional nonetheless, alluding to the assumption that the ICE arrests are down proper 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 mentioned.
Protesters fumed about latest ICE arrests.Picture by Dean Moses 
“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 mentioned.Picture by Dean Moses
Regardless of the accusations, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s workplace informed New York News 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 additionally condemned the elected officers for implying collusion between Metropolis Corridor 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 mentioned. “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.”
Together with venting frustration at Metropolis Corridor, the June 2 rally at Foley Sq. additionally sought to drum up help for the implementation of the Dignity Not Detention Act and New York for All Payments. In accordance with Salazar, these payments would enormously cut back the state’s means to work with ICE and would cease prisons and hospitals from serving immigration detention.
Salazar, major sponsor of the Dignity Not Detention Act (S.316) which is presently in committee, mentioned the clock is operating out this legislative session to have the payments clear the state Senate and Meeting and be dropped at Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk for her signature. The state Legislative session for 2025 ends on June 12, until the governor calls it again into session for any motive.
“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.”
Whereas the outraged elected officers mentioned these legal guidelines may assist curb ICE’s energy, additionally they warn that there are solely days left within the legislative session, which means time is of the essence.Picture by Dean Moses
