On January 20, 2025, in a report from New York, President Trump vowed to carry out large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants as soon as he took office. In response to this, city council members of New York City, considered a “sanctuary city,” along with organizations supporting immigrants, held a rally on Thursday, January 16, demanding that the mayor and city government take more measures to protect immigrants.
During the rally, the City Council’s Committee on Immigration held a hearing to discuss strategies regarding Trump’s administration. The City Council introduced two resolutions, urging state legislators to vote quickly and urging the governor to pass two bills to protect immigrants.
The rally groups called for the passage of two bills. One is the “New York for All Act,” which prohibits New York state and local government agencies from discovering and disclosing immigrant status. The other is the “Access to Representation Act,” which establishes the right for immigrants to have legal representation in immigration court proceedings and outlines the management of this right.
“The city has long been committed to protecting our immigrants, not only ensuring their survival but also enabling them to truly thrive and prosper,” said Alexa Aviles, Chair of the City Council’s Immigration Committee, during the hearing. “We urge the mayor not to abandon this tradition that New Yorkers take pride in, but instead to affirm it, protect it to the fullest extent of the law, and take action to ensure that New York City does not become an accomplice to anti-immigrant actions.”
Manuel Castro, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), testified during the hearing, stating that they have been training staff members within their department to “fully understand the scope and meaning of New York City law,” including sanctuary laws and executive orders. He emphasized that all public and private sectors, including contractors and suppliers, are prohibited from assisting in immigration enforcement or using city resources for such purposes.
The hearing lasted for 6 hours.
That’s all for the news update.