Q&A
City's preparations for potential ICE enforcement at sensitive locations
1:21:57
ยท
3 min
Council Member Aviles questions MOIA representatives about the city's preparations for potential ICE enforcement at sensitive locations like hospitals, schools, and religious institutions. The discussion reveals that the city is taking the threats seriously and preparing across agencies.
- MOIA is working with city agencies to prepare for potential ICE enforcement
- Discussions are ongoing with houses of worship about their rights as private properties
- Clear protocols are in place for schools and government locations
Alexa Aviles
1:21:57
Okay.
1:21:57
So in terms of obviously, the incoming administration has, signaled their intention to obviously remove numerous protections for immigrant communities.
1:22:12
And our communities are very fearful.
1:22:17
And on a daily basis, we hear people who are leaving New York City because of these threats and because of the rhetoric of rolling back or working with this administration.
1:22:30
Can you tell me how the city is responding to the following scenarios?
1:22:35
And what do the preparations kind of look like?
1:22:38
So the possibility of ICE agents waiting to apprehend immigrants at or near hospitals, schools, religious institutions, especially if the Department of Homeland Security's protected areas list is changed or rescinded?
Manuel Castro
1:22:57
Yes.
1:22:58
Again, you know, as I described earlier, we take, what we've heard so far from the incoming federal administration very seriously.
1:23:05
We've been thinking through this, working across, city agencies.
1:23:11
And, just to add to what we were discussing earlier, this is a directive coming from our city hall leadership to provide training to our staff, in particular, front facing staff.
1:23:29
We have shared that this is a priority, in which, commissioners and heads of agencies are expected to take very seriously.
1:23:40
Again, it's hard to get into hypotheticals, but I again, you know, we are taking a close look at what may happen, in the coming weeks months, and we are preparing our city agencies to respond.
1:23:55
So for instance, I met with the school's chancellor and the commissioner of the administration of children services to discuss, how are they preparing to support children that might be left unattended, as a result of, family separation?
1:24:13
There are protocols in place in if that were to take place, but this is the kind of preparation that is going into our preparation for what might come in the cup in the next couple of weeks months.
Alexa Aviles
1:24:28
So does the administration have any guidance for this scenario, which is highly likely?
Manuel Castro
1:24:36
So we have been in discussions for with, for instance, houses of worship who you know, again, there's a lot of confusion.
1:24:43
I've clarified that there is no existing law that protects, these, sensitive locations.
1:24:50
And as you stated, the Department of Homeland Security may revoke the guidance provided to their immigration enforcement agencies.
1:24:58
We've encouraged houses of worship and others to understand their rights as, private properties and what to do in a case of immigration enforcement showing up at their doorstep and, what they are required and also entitled to to do.
1:25:16
With respect to our schools and, locations, public, and and, government locations, the the guidance and the protocols are clear as to what they, have to do, and they are encouraged to speak to our law department for additional, guidance.