Last week, a federal judge ruled that New York City’s administration must hand over information requested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE’s Records Request.
In August last year, ICE sought records identifying male residents of the Bruckner homeless shelter in the Bronx. Specifically, ICE’s first subpoena sought the full names and dates of birth of all men living at two city-run shelters. The agency’s second subpoena narrowed the request to noncitizens at a specific shelter in the Bronx convicted of any of the following: murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, assault, grand larceny, burglary, or assault of a law enforcement officer. ICE amended the request in September. The agency then issued a fourth subpoena in October last year seeking records identifying all male residents of the Bruckner shelter.
ICE argued that the information was necessary to investigate whether the residents were subject to deportation.
Mamdani’s Opposition.
Opposition to ICE’s requests from New York City officials began under former Mayor Eric Adams. Officials claimed ICE’s requests violated New York City’s sanctuary policies and imposed an unduly burdensome investigation on the local authorities. City officials further accused the initial request of being “an improper fishing expedition lacking any legitimate investigative purpose.”
Since Mamdani took office in January earlier this year, city officials have maintained their opposition to ICE’s requests. It had not supplied the relevant records by the time the case reached U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan.
Federal Judge’s Order.
On Friday, Judge Kaplan ordered New York City to comply with the subpoena.
“The City has not shown that producing this list would be unduly burdensome… Under the applicable case law, the Court therefore has no choice but to compel the subpoena’s enforcement, as modified by the appointment and role of a special master,” wrote Judge Kaplan in his decision.
The special master ensures that only the names of shelter residents with serious criminal histories will be provided.
This ruling constitutes a setback for Mamdani’s administration as Democrat-controlled localities continue to oppose ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to track down and deport illegal migrants from the United States.
