New York City, historically a tapestry of cultures, is renowned as a haven for immigrants who have left their mark on the city’s vibrant fabric—from a humble slice of pizza to lively bodegas playing bachata music, owned and operated by immigrants. However, there has recently been a noticeable change in the city’s atmosphere. Differences in national standpoint towards immigration have started to ripple into the city’s amicable ambiance.
A dramatic reversal of long-standing policy has emerged with Mayor Eric Adams, who is now willing to cooperate with the Trump administration’s hardline stance on illegal immigration. This policy shift represents a significant departure from New York’s historical reputation as a sanctuary for familes worldwide. Since the 1980s, New York City has adopted the status of a sanctuary city, limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Only last week, the Department of Justice called for the dismissal of the case against Mayor Adams, arguing that it was hampering his capacity to facilitate Trump’s extensive deportation agenda. Just days later, Adams made a commitment to assist the Trump administration with its policies on illegal immigration. This move raises questions: amidst all its rich immigration history, is New York City still a safe harbor for immigrants?
The perception of the city’s stance on immigration varies depending on the perspective. Bishop Matthew Hyde, who can be found at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in Upper Manhattan, reminisces about the past three decades of life in New York. The city’s transformation in recent months has been striking, according to him. Concerns are widespread and permeate even mundane aspects of existence.
His congregants are finding life increasingly fraught. Public spaces once familiar, like supermarkets, have become zones of trepidation. Nevertheless, in the face of these fears, the bishop notes an increased community response. Church-goers are stepping in, buying groceries for immigrant families afraid to risk exposure to potential immigration raids. Hyde attributes this mobilization to the perceived lack of support from those in positions of authority.
Yet, there are also New Yorkers who applaud Mayor Adams’ seemingly newfound stance on immigration. Peter Giunta, chairman of the New York State Young Republicans and frequent customer at Filoncino Cafe, a popular Italian sandwich diner in Staten Island, praises Adam’s willingness to support the current administration’s immigration policies. He argues this follows a mandate given to President Trump by the American public.
The city has welcomed over 200,000 migrants in the past three years. Giunta expresses his belief that it’s high time the city started addressing the issue of illegal immigrants, particularly those with a criminal history. I challenge his viewpoint, drawing attention to the prosciutto and capicola sandwiches we’re enjoying—a culinary legacy of Italian immigrants. Isn’t this indicative of the city’s core identity, inherently shaped by immigrants?
Giunta disagrees, asserting that a ‘New Yorker’ defines the city’s true essence, not any single immigrant group. He maintains that the immigrants of the 18th and 19th centuries, like his Italian great-grandparents, were a different breed, with a contrasting set of values compared to some of the migrants arriving today.
The sentiment is echoed by others, including recent immigrants who feel a palpable difference between the immigrants of yesteryears and the newcomers of today. One such voice is Carlos Collado, a U.S. citizen originally from the Dominican Republic, now residing in the Bronx. Despite his lifelong loyalty to the Democrats, Collado voted for Trump owing to concerns about the incoming migrants.
Collado, a local supermarket owner, has seen his neighborhood transform with the opening of a nearby migrant shelter. He recounts a noticeable rise in shopliftings and appreciates Trump’s approach towards establishing law and order. However, he also expresses concern over Mayor Adams’ progressively strengthening ties with the Trump administration.
While Collado is an advocate for increased immigration control, he is also critical of overly harsh measures. His apprehension is towards the separation of families who migrated for better opportunities, who are industrious and law-abiding. His belief is that the relations between the city’s mayor and the Trump administration could become excessively punitive.
More recently, Mayor Adams expressed his intention to combat ‘violent migrant gangs.’ He proposed bringing back ICE agents to Rikers Island to assist in criminal investigations, specifically targeting violent criminals and gangs. This is an unprecedented shift, as since 2014, a law prohibited the Department of Correction from working with ICE, except for serious or violent crimes.
Mayor Adams’ commitment to crime prevention has had a severe impact on the city’s immigrant community. The fear of deportation has enveloped areas like Queens, particularly on Roosevelt Avenue, a location renowned for its lively immigrant street vendors, located under the 7 train. ICE officer sightings have become a daily occurrence and unfortunately, this vibrant area has quietened.
A local vendor who sells scrumptious Colombian buñuelos express his fear, stating that he had never seen terror grip the community so intensely before. Anonymously known as ‘T’, he reveals his heightened fear of being caught in a raid. It is a chilling feeling, he confesses, which has only grown worse during his two decades in New York.
Amidst these anxious times, fierce advocates like Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez from the Street Vendors Project raise their voice. According to her, ordinary immigrants merely trying to make ends meet are being unfairly criminalized. Worsening matters, the local police have been issuing more citations to street vendors. She accuses Mayor Adams of being either ignorant of or indifferent to his city’s constituents. In her eyes, the unique nature of New York—incorporating elements as quintessential as thin crust pizza or a warm buñuelo on a chilly night in Queens—is inextricably linked with its immigration heritage.