Tom Homan, the border czar, has voiced criticism against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, for taking pride in NYC’s status as a sanctuary city. Homan believes these policies obstruct cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, which he claims might lead to unfortunate events, as seen in the Laken Riley case. His emphasis centers on maintaining law and order.
Recently, a conservative legal group informed NYC police officers that they can directly contact the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite local sanctuary policies stating otherwise. This update comes as Homan plans a significant immigration enforcement effort in the city.
Fox News Digital obtained a 35-page handbook titled the “Law Enforcement Officer Immigration Cooperation Guide” from America First Legal (AFL). The guide tells state and local police that they can share immigration-status information with ICE, even if local policies oppose it. It cites Section 1373 of federal law, which prevents state and local governments from stopping officers from sharing such information with federal authorities.
America First Legal, a nonprofit asserting its defense of American rights, released this guide as Homan prepares to send a large number of ICE agents into NYC, following Mayor Mamdani’s executive order to bolster the city’s sanctuary status.
The guide emphasizes that Section 1373 prohibits state and local governments from blocking officials from communicating immigration-status information to federal entities. Officers are informed about contacting ICE’s 24-hour Law Enforcement Support Center with just a name and birth date, regardless of local directives.
Homan indicated that a substantial ICE operation will soon take place in NYC, a city known for its sanctuary policies. Despite the opposition from city leadership, ICE will continue to enforce immigration law.
Mayor Mamdani’s Executive Order 13 necessitates a review and training of NYPD officers regarding interaction with federal immigration authorities. The order criticizes the intense tactics by certain non-local agencies, suggesting these tactics generate fear and diminish public safety.
America First Legal argues that local regulations cannot legally stop officers from voluntarily providing information to ICE, as federal law takes precedence. The guide also points out possible legal consequences for officials enforcing sanctuary policies, including potential federal criminal charges for obstruction and possible lawsuits under federal civil RICO law.
AFL invites officers feeling threatened or retaliated against for ICE cooperation to seek legal representation. “Politicians using sanctuary policies to shield themselves are not above the law,” remarked AFL Senior Counsel James Rogers. Gene Hamilton, AFL president, added that law enforcement should not have to choose between adhering to federal law and unlawful directives.
NYC Hall did not respond to requests for comment at the time. Contributions to this reporting were made by Taylor Penley and Jasmine Baehr, covering various political and legal issues.