The city is rolling out a uniform policy to its municipal workforce, outlining what to do when federal agents attempt to enter city property.
NEW YORK (WABC) — City agencies in New York are working through confusion over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
It comes after an updated guidance was issued to city agencies about whether city employees should allow federal agents into schools, hospitals and municipal buildings.
Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos says the policy at the city’s public schools has not changed and employees have been directed to not allow federal agents onto property without a warrant.
“We unequivocally stand with all children in our city regardless of immigration status. We want to be very clear-our policies have not changed,” she said. “Above all else, our promise to families remains the same-New York City Public Schools is committed to serving every student, regardless of immigration status, national origin, or religion.”
However, that differs from updated guidance distributed to many other city agencies, seemingly directing city workers to step aside and allow federal agents to access municipal buildings if they feel their safety is threatened by arrest or other actions.
That shift was met with backlash from City Council members, labor unions, immigration advocates and legal services providers.
On Monday, Deputy Mayor for Administration Camille Joseph Varlack tried to turn the temperature down in an exclusive sit-down interview with Eyewitness News.
“We are solely focused on delivering for New Yorkers and making sure that we uphold New York’s values and that we are making sure that we try to turn the temperature down and calm people as much as possible,” Varlack said.
It comes amid protests as ICE agents have arrested dozens of undocumented immigrants.
“I think everyone is impacted, there are individuals on the senior leadership team here who are immigrants themselves, who have friends and family that may be caught up in it, so we, we know that this is a difficult moment,” Varlack said.
The difficult moment prompted a high-level cabinet meeting on Monday morning that was attended by commissioners of the NYPD, social services, health and hospitals, and the schools chancellor.
There, it was announced the city is rolling out a uniform policy to its municipal workforce, outlining what to do when federal agents attempt to enter city property.
The steps, described as essentially a flowchart, give the clearest instructions to city employees as they interact with ICE agents and other federal authorities at the doors of city buildings, like schools, hospitals and shelters.
“The mayor has been very clear on certain things. One, that families and children are a priority. And two, that he doesn’t want any city worker being put in a situation where they have to make or or create a difficult circumstances,” Varlack said. “They are engaging with a non-local law enforcement officer.”
The flowchart explains to ask for ID, the purpose of the visit and for a judicial warrant and how to respond if the answer to any of the questions is no.
“This refined guidance keeps in mind both the requirements of the U.S. Constitution, it honors our status as a sanctuary city, our local laws,” said Muriel Goode-Trufant with NYC Corporation Council.
Additional guidance was needed after the earlier memo was taken out of context, according to the mayor’s office. They said it was only intended for general counsels to advise staffers blocking entry is not worth getting arrested and getting hit with federal obstruction charges.
“It ended up becoming more widely disseminated that it was meant to be,” Varlack said. “And we know that that document is not the ideal training document for frontline staff. And so we wanted to make something as simple as possible.”
The latest guidance doesn’t apply to the Department of Education, the NYPD or the Department of Correction.
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The city is rolling out a uniform policy to its municipal workforce, outlining what to do when federal agents attempt to enter city property.