Discussion about Safe haven policies that protect immigrants In New York He came to the fore again Official investigation Who mentioned that The police officer had broken the rules Which prevents cooperation with federal authorities. In the Big Apple, regulations have been in place for nearly four decades Limits of cooperation With agencies like Immigration and customs (Icefor its abbreviation in English).
As detailed NBC New York Based on a report from the City Investigation Department (DOIfor its abbreviation in English) An officer in the New York City Police Department (NYPDfor its abbreviation in English) It would violate Sanctuary City regulations.
Specifically, the report notes this cooperated with Federal immigration agents In a series of recorded events Between November 2024 and summer 2025. He described the investigation At least five episodes Police personnel maintained exchanges with federal agencies associated with alien control, despite current restrictions.
The most important issue you focus on An agent assigned to a joint force with the Department of Homeland Security (Department of Homeland Security). According to the report, this officer She agreed to create a digital database with alleged members of Aragua Train is a criminal organization I shared it with federal officials who were in direct contact with the NYPD.
Although The action did not lead to any arrestsThe behavior was considered inappropriate Resulted in the removal of the agent from the joint force. In addition, their access permissions to internal NYPD systems were limited.
The idea of a “sanctuary city,” as he described it New York Times, It does not constitute a legal category, But one Expression that defines which jurisdictions establish barriers To prevent municipal agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
In practice, these restrictions work as follows: A wall prevents the exchange of information Between those who provide public services, such as police, teachers or health workers, and agents who seek to detain or deport people without legal status.
he These provisions originate in New York It dates back a decade 1980when he was then mayor Edward Koch issued an executive order to do so Municipal agencies were prohibited from engaging with federal officials Data on migrants, unless there is suspicion of criminal activities.
Instructions It was reissued in later efforts Over the years, other cities in the United States have adopted similar measures.
in 1996After Congress promoted a law aimed at preventing municipalities from keeping information about aliens, Then-Mayor of the Big Apple, Rudolph Giuliani, went to court to defend the executive order.
Although the litigation was unsuccessful, the following administration amended the policy to adapt it to federal regulations: V 2003, Michael Bloombergwho was in charge of the government of New York City, I ordered that Public officials will not ask about the immigration status of neighborsexcept in specific circumstances.
in 2014the then mayor’s administration Bill de Blasio A agreed The legislative package significantly expanded the scope of these protectionsas specified New York Times. The new laws have almost completely limited police assistance And from the prison system to ICE agents To deport people without papers.
Until then, Evictions reached record numbers during Barack Obama’s termwith about 400,000 family separations annually across the North American country. Part of that increase This was due to coordination between ICE and local governmentswhich facilitated the transfer of detained immigrants from municipal prisons to the federal deportation system.
government De Blasio put an end to that mechanism through laws that expelled ICE from its offices inside the Rikers Island prison complex and placed severe restrictions on contact between federal agents and the Department of Corrections.
Moreover, it was created Exceptions are made only for immigrants convicted of serious or violent crimesIt is a list of more than 170 criminal offences, such as murder or rape. Likewise, it required that each request be accompanied by a court order signed by a federal judge.
with Donald Trump ascends to the presidency in 2016The Big Apple has added other barriers, e.g Requires ICE to serve warrants to enter schools, shelters, or other public buildings. At the state level, the 2020 law also prohibits immigration officers from making arrests inside municipal or state courts, he said. New York Times.