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Council member presses MOIA commissioner on opposition to Trump administration policies
1:15:26
ยท
137 sec
Council Member Shahana Hanif repeatedly questions MOIA Commissioner Manuel Castro about the administration's stance on Trump-era immigration policies. Castro avoids direct answers, citing communication protocols and the need to avoid confusion.
- Hanif expresses frustration at the lack of clear opposition to mass deportation and family separation policies
- Castro refers to city hall statements and op-eds for the administration's positions
- The exchange highlights the tension between the council's desire for a strong stance and the administration's cautious approach to public statements
Shahana Hanif
1:15:26
That's very disappointing.
1:15:28
As you're tasked with fighting for immigrant New Yorkers, could you share any immigrant policies of the
UNKNOWN
1:15:32
Trump administration that you oppose and the Adams administration is actively fighting back
Shahana Hanif
1:15:38
against?
Manuel Castro
1:15:41
Can you repeat the question?
1:15:43
I'm
Shahana Hanif
1:15:45
policies of the Trump administration that you oppose and the Adams administration is actively fighting back against?
Manuel Castro
1:15:53
Again, we can't and don't want to weigh in on on these ongoing debates.
1:16:00
Much of our work has been to clarify what has changed and not changed as I have shared during my testimony and and the questions that I've responded.
1:16:16
And I want to keep it at that so as not to confuse.
Shahana Hanif
1:16:19
I mean, it's confusing to me that our mayor's office of immigrant affairs has nothing to say about the Trump administration's rollback on immigrant protections and the mass deportation agenda?
Manuel Castro
1:16:36
Well, again, you know, our role is both to work closely with our city agencies and offices and city hall, provide our analysis and guidance as we have.
Shahana Hanif
1:16:53
Could you share if the Adams administration is fighting back against the mass deportation and family separation agenda?
Manuel Castro
1:17:07
Again, you know, the city hall has put out a number of statements and op eds and, you know, the the positions are, I believe, shared in those communications pieces.
Shahana Hanif
1:17:27
Well, for anyone who's watching and for all of the advocates who are here, this is quite embarrassing that the Immigrant Affairs Office can't even say anything about the family separation agenda or the mass deportation agenda.