New York City Mayor Adam Adams has faced criticism from some New Yorkers for his collaboration with the federal ICE on immigration issues. The mayor has suggested that he may use executive orders to advance this practice. A “Common Sense Caucus” composed of moderate Democratic and Republican council members proposed in a recent city council meeting: why not put this issue on the ballot for the November general election and let the voters decide?
According to the New York Post, the “Common Sense Caucus” of the city council sent a letter to the constitutional revision committee appointed by Adams last week, urging the committee to include a “Sanctuary Rights Law” in the November ballot for a referendum to ask New Yorkers if they support amending this “sanctuary city” policy to allow the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to cooperate with the federal government in arresting illegal immigrants.
The so-called “sanctuary city” policy, or “Sanctuary Rights Law,” is one of the series of policies pushed by left-wing politicians. The law strictly limits the cooperation between the NYPD, as well as the city’s correction and probation departments, and the federal government to help deport illegal immigrant criminals.
The letter was jointly written by the co-chairs of the Common Sense Caucus, Democratic Council Members Holden and Ariola from Queens, along with four other members. It was a response to a statement by the chair of the constitutional revision committee, Buery, who vehemently opposed any attempts to amend the city’s sanctuary rights law through changing the charter.
The “Common Sense Caucus” believes that the only way to amend the “Sanctuary Rights Law” in New York is through a referendum, as the mayor’s executive orders may not hold up in court. The possibility of amending this controversial policy through the city council is currently almost nonexistent.