Q&A
Council member inquires about upholding sanctuary protections under new administration
0:59:34
ยท
179 sec
Council Member Sandy Nurse questions MOIA officials about the city's commitment to upholding sanctuary protections during the incoming Trump administration. The discussion covers the removal of ICE from Rikers jails, NYPD's policy on ICE detainers, and changes to the NYPD handbook regarding cooperation with ICE.
- MOIA affirms that sanctuary laws can only be modified by the city council and that the current administration is committed to following these laws.
- MOIA worked with NYPD to update their handbook, but cannot speculate on potential changes in the upcoming administration.
- The council member expresses concern about MOIA's ability to answer specific questions about NYPD procedures.
Sandy Nurse
0:59:34
Thank you, chair Velez, and good morning still.
0:59:39
Just a couple questions.
0:59:41
During the last Trump administration, the mayor's office and the city council, made sure to remove, the ICE office from Rikers jails and ensure that the NYPD not honor ICE detainers with the exception of, of 177 series crimes.
1:00:04
Since then, the NYPD handbook was changed that if there is cooperation with ICE, it would require an approval from a senior officer.
1:00:15
Is your advice or is it your understanding that the Administration and the NYPD will uphold these sanctuary protections during the incoming Administration?
Manuel Castro
1:00:26
As, you know, we've stated, our sanctuary laws that are in place, can only be modified by city council, and the directive, by the mayor and the administration is that we must follow the laws in in place, including our sanctuary laws.
1:00:48
With respect to, NYPD's handbook, I'll let, Rebecca talk a little bit more about her work with NYPD and advising in that matter.
Lorena Lucero
1:01:00
And I'll just add and, please, Rebecca, expand on the work that we did to to work to, update the handbook.
1:01:08
But, we really can't sort of get into specifics in regards to the NYPD, sort of, like, processes that they do.
1:01:14
But I wanna let Rebecca expand on what we did do to sort of improve or try to help improve, the handbook.
Rebecca Engel
1:01:22
So, yes, we did work with NYPD over a series of months this past summer about updating their handbook.
1:01:27
I do remember that footnote that you are referring to, and that is accurate, that they, in those situations should consult with general counsel.
1:01:36
Whether that is going to change in the upcoming administration, I cannot speculate.
1:01:41
I can only say that NYPD has been very vigilant, so far actually in their reporting and in their, in the writing of their policies and has not broken any dictator laws in my tenure at all.
Sandy Nurse
1:01:55
Okay.
1:01:55
And just for the record, would you, remind us all what those specific types of instances would be where they would require or they would get approval from a supervising officer?
Lorena Lucero
1:02:10
Yeah.
1:02:10
That's where we can answer it because we're not in the NYPD.
1:02:14
I and I don't, imagine we walk through any we wouldn't be able to answer that.
1:02:19
We would have to defer to the NYPD.
Sandy Nurse
1:02:21
Okay.
1:02:21
I I mean, it seems like this is something that the entire administration, at least in this office, should be prepared to answer coming in so that we have that, and that you're able to effectively communicate that across the board to different agencies.