Mayor Eric Adams gathered his top commissioners and officials early Monday to give marching orders under the new administration: don’t criticize President Trump, don’t interfere with immigration enforcement and trust the mayor, multiple sources told THE CITY.
Adams scheduled the approximately hour-long meeting, which was held at the Municipal Building, late Friday, after days of confusion over guidance on what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrive at city buildings, including schools and hospitals. THE CITY reported in January that one memo instructed city employees to intercept ICE agents attempting to enter city-owned buildings until city lawyers could weigh in. But Hell Gate reported last week that another memo told employees they could let federal law enforcement in if they feel “reasonably threatened.”
The mayor began the meeting Monday by asking his top officials how they felt and that they shouldn’t be shy about sharing, sources told THE CITY.
After some people expressed their concerns and asked for clearer guidance from the mayor, Adams ordered them to stop complaining and to keep their heads down and refrain from criticizing President Donald Trump — and trust that he will make sure the city doesn’t get federal grants pulled, multiple people told THE CITY.
They were also ordered to not be critical of the president or federal government on social media.
Trump has already threatened to pull federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities, where laws or policies limit local government cooperation with immigration enforcement. New York City’s laws allow cooperation with ICE only in limited instances involving people convicted of certain felonies, or with a judicial warrant.
Attendees spotted by THE CITY entering the meeting included Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, Health and Hospitals CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park, and multiple deputy mayors.
On Sunday, Aviles-Ramos released a video assuring parents, students, and school staff that “any non-local law enforcement is not permitted” inside school buildings. She declined to clarify or answer questions as she entered the meeting.
Adams also told his top officials they needed to stop complaining about President Trump and move on because he was elected — which echoes what he’s repeatedly shared in press briefings.
A spokesperson for Adams, who was also spotted at the meeting, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The mayor has said he won’t publicly criticize the president, and has refused to criticize Trump’s statements or actions when pressed by reporters.
Trump said in December he would “look at” potentially pardoning Adams, whose federal corruption trial is set to begin in April.
It’s fueled speculation that the mayor is acting chiefly to obtain a pardon or dropped charges from the president, even as Trump threatened to withhold crucial funding from the city.
Over the weekend, Trump threatened to end congestion pricing by withholding federal grants to New York City.
“If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the Department of Transportation,” he told the New York Post. He also said during that interview he would get rid of bike lanes and “sidewalks in the middle of the street” in Manhattan.
The mayor has met at least twice with Trump since he was elected last November and said he has spoken with him multiple times.
Adams visited the president at one of his golf courses in Florida days before he was sworn in, and then drove down in the middle of the night to Washington D.C. after he received a last-minute invite to the inauguration.
Adams’ criminal defense attorney Alex Spiro reportedly met with Department of Justice officials late last month to discuss potentially dropping the fraud and corruption charges against the mayor.
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