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NYC's immigrant affairs leader criticized for staying mum on Trump's policies
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Mar 6, 2025
Modified Mar 7, 2025
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Arya Sundaram/Gothamist
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Mar 6, 2025
Modified Mar 7, 2025
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A day after Mayor Eric Adams faced a phalanx of questions in Washington about the city’s sanctuary city policies, his immigrant affairs commissioner faced a barrage of his own on Thursday, this time from city councilmembers.
Manuel Castro, head of the mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, testified before a City Council hearing, ostensibly about his office’s $26.7 million budget. But councilmembers had more questions about the Adams’ administration’s stance on Washington policy matters, including what city officials were doing to oppose President Donald Trump’s “mass deportation” plan.
Castro’s boss – the mayor – fielded dozens of questions regarding the same on Wednesday during a House Oversight and Government Reform hearing on sanctuary cities. Adams largely walked a tightrope, lauding immigrants' contributions to New York City while voicing support for the deportation of undocumented immigrants who break criminal laws.
Castro refused to tread the same ground. Councilmember Shahana Hanif of Brooklyn asked Castro if the Adams administration opposes any of Trump’s immigration policies, and if city officials are doing anything to oppose the president’s “mass deportation” efforts.
Castro declined to respond, saying he wouldn’t weigh in on “these ongoing debates,” and referred further questions to City Hall. The exchange marked another chapter in the city’s ongoing conversation about sanctuary policies, with Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration looming in the background.
“ This is quite embarrassing that the immigrant affairs office can't even say anything about the family separation agenda or the mass deportation agenda,” Hanif said.
Liz Garcia, a City Hall spokesperson, in a statement later, responded to the criticism.
“Today, City Councilmember Hanif’s shameful performance showed that she is more concerned with playing politics than learning about the important work MOIA is actually doing — providing resources to immigrant communities at a time when so many are contributing to heightened anxiety and fear," Garcia said.
She added: "As a Dreamer and longtime advocate, Commissioner Castro continues to stand up for immigrants in New York City, regardless of who is president, and the Adams administration intends to do the same.”
The city’s sanctuary protections generally bar city personnel or resources from being used to assist with immigration enforcement, except in limited circumstances. No city law requires city officials to oppose or interfere with federal immigration enforcement efforts. But councilmembers pushed Castro in that direction.
Councilmembers criticized Castro for refusing to opine on Trump’s immigration policies, portraying his unwillingness as a betrayal of his duty to serve the city’s immigrants. They noted Adams’ recent overtures to Trump — the mayor visited Trump in Florida ahead of the presidential inauguration — as well as Adams' statements about his willingness to cooperate with the Trump administration to deport criminals.
Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa of Manhattan said she respects Castro personally, but chided him for not taking as strong of a pro-immigrant stance as she felt he should.
“ The word acrobatics being used today show this Council that this office isn't performing to the extent that it can be performing,” De La Rosa said.
When Castro deflected the councilmembers’ questions, he pointed to the limited scope of his agency, which has 67 staff members and a $26.7 million budget — a fraction of the city’s overall budget of over $100 billion.
”We do the best that we can … within the constraints we have in our charter mandate. I wish those were stronger,” Castro said. “We have limited powers and resources to do everything we wish we could.”
Castro’s reticence on Trump’s policies diverged from his prior appearances at Council hearings, where he touted his advocacy for previous President Joe Biden to enact certain immigration initiatives. That includes the Adams administration’s advocacy for expanded access to Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from a variety of countries, including Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador and Cameroon.
Castro on Thursday also refused to weigh in on Adams’ decision to issue an executive order to allow federal immigration officials to reopen an office at the Rikers Island jail complex. Adams announced his plans last month following a meeting with Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan, but he has not yet issued such an order.
But in a divergence from his boss, Castro said no changes should be made to New York City’s sanctuary protections. Adams has vocally criticized the city’s sanctuary protections, saying they go too far in protecting criminal offenders.
Castro also tried to quell immigrant listeners' fears, imploring them in English and Spanish to continue sending their children to school, visiting public hospitals and calling 911 if they’ve witnessed or been victims of crimes.
This article was updated with comment from a City Hall spokesperson.
Tagged
new york city
Race And Justice Unit
Politics
Asylum Seekers
Arya Sundaram
Arya is a reporter covering race and justice. Got a tip? Email: [email protected] or reach Arya on Signal at 512-650-8767.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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