New York City has always been a city of immigrants. For generations, people from all corners of the world have made this place their home, strengthening our neighborhoods, our economy and our culture. Our sanctuary city policies, passed and expanded over decades, reflect a simple truth, that New Yorkers believe everyone deserves to live without fear.
But today, that promise is threatened. As the federal administration escalates attacks on immigrant New Yorkers, we are seeing the true harms of illegal ICE detentions and racial profiling. Last November, LatinoJustice led a case in which a federal jury awarded $112 million to 674 people who Suffolk County illegally held in jail beyond their legal release dates, solely because ICE requested they be held.
These detentions were unconstitutional, unnecessary, and deeply damaging, not only to people separated from their families, but also to the trust our communities need to feel safe.
When local agencies collaborate with ICE outside the law, people are unjustly imprisoned. Families are plunged into crisis, and immigrant New Yorkers are afraid to report crimes, seek help, or even access basic services. That fear makes us all less safe.
Right now, New York City laws still have loopholes that allow this harm to continue. There is no clear legal path for people illegally detained due to ICE intervention to seek justice. And although the City Council was able to prevent ICE from operating inside Rikers Island, the law does not fully specify that ICE cannot establish an office on city jail property. These legal uncertainties give ICE room to overreach and leave municipal agencies uncertain about their obligations.
Fortunately, The New York City Council can close these gaps, and several councilors and immigrant rights organizations are already leading and supporting this effort. As the Trump Administration Steps Up Enforcement of Harmful Immigration Laws, There Are Efforts to strengthen and protect our city’s sanctuary city laws. New York will not use its own municipal resources to assist in federal immigration raids.
At LatinoJustice, we are especially supportive of the New York City Trust Law and Introductory 1412. Our recent $112 million verdict in Suffolk County demonstrates exactly why accountability is necessary. When city or county agencies ignore sanctuary city laws, people are unlawfully detained, sometimes for days, and families suffer lasting harm. The Trust Act ensures that New Yorkers can seek justice when these laws are violated. Initiative 1412 ensures that ICE cannot quietly infiltrate our prisons.
For decades, LatinoJustice has fought against illegal detentions, racial profiling, and abuse of government power. We see daily how ICE actions and illegal cooperation destabilize immigrant communities, discourage the reporting of crimes, and undermine public safety for all. Strengthening sanctuary laws is not just about protecting immigrant New Yorkers, it is about protecting the health, safety and stability of our entire city.
New York is stronger when we protect each other. These bills reaffirm that we are a city that values dignity, justice and the rule of law. By passing the New York City Trust Act and Initiative 1412, the City Council can ensure that we build a New York where everyone feels protected and valued. Public safety is stronger when New York City has the power to take actions that New Yorkers know make our communities safe. Now is the time for our city to stand firm on its values and act decisively to protect all who call New York home.
Rformer Chen is the Supervising Immigrant Rights Attorney at LatinoJustice PRLDEF.