New York City Does Not Require Employee Cooperation with Federal Immigration Enforcement
New York City officials clarify that city employees are not required to assist federal immigration enforcement, emphasizing the importance of accurate information to reduce anxiety in immigrant communities.
The City of New York is not instructing city employees to cooperate with federal law enforcement or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams said Friday evening.
A memo obtained by PIX11 News outlines the steps to take if non-local law enforcement requests access to non-public areas for immigration enforcement. According to the date at the top, the memo was shared with city employees on January 13.
The city says the memo contains steps for city workers to follow. The bottom of the memo reads:
A city spokesperson noted that the immigration situation and guidance are constantly evolving. As a result, the city is finalizing further guidance for city workers to follow if they encounter federal law enforcement attempting to enter a building.
"Anyone perpetuating the claim that New York City is instructing city employees to open doors for federal law enforcement, including ICE, simply is spreading misinformation that only fuels anxiety within immigrant communities and our city's workforce."
New York City is considered a sanctuary city, which means it limits or declines to cooperate with the federal government's enforcement of immigration law.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023.
