“ICE has already stated that they do not patrol areas indiscriminately seeking illegal immigrants. They operate on information and leads that are given to them. They follow orders just like any other federal agency…”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday he intends to block ICE from entering public schools. Staffers were directed to deny ICE agents entrance to schools unless executing a warrant signed by a judge, and further detailed the procedure to be followed in the unlikely event ICE agents do show up with one.
De Blasio also said that he knows these things don’t take place—ICE agents entering schools—but at this point anything is possible. Immigration Customs and Enforcement have said they don’t intend to visit schools seeking out students who are in the United States illegally. Despite that fact, Mayor de Blasio blasted ICE for their recent crackdowns on illegal immigration by suggesting the agency has the potential to single out children.
As he outlined the above operating procedures, Mayor de Blasio did so in a tone of distrust and hysteria. The way he described ICE makes them sound like a death squad roaming the streets of NYC searching for random people to tag and bag. He also stated that he wants immigrants to know their rights, and assured them that NYC is their city too. Coincidentally, de Blasio is up for reelection in November.
In any case, what he has described is not ICE’s method of operation. ICE has already stated that they do not patrol areas indiscriminately seeking illegal immigrants. They operate on information and leads that are given to them. They follow orders just like any other federal agency.
Like other mayors of sanctuary cities, de Blasio does not agree with President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. In fact, he seems almost combative in his interpretation of how things have been carried out. At the very least, Mayor de Blasio should explain the policy changes to his immigrant population, as well as how to legally comply with executive orders; however, de Blasio chose instead to spread fear of ICE agents by vilifying them.
Rather than invoking panic and fear among his city’s residents, Mayor de Blasio should be conducting himself as a leader. Taking action against ICE agents for doing their jobs as a means to protest President Trump could end up costing the city of New York federal funding as a penalty for not following executive orders and federal mandates. I’m sure in theory this sounds like a price that Mayor de Blasio says the entire city is willing to pay to protect those who might be living here illegally, but I wonder how many of his legal residents would disagree with him.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She has ten years experience in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
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