In a controversial move, City Hall has inaugurated a policy that grants city employees the authority to permit federal immigration agents on their premises, sparking heated debate throughout the community. Advocates argue that this approach will facilitate the task of federal agencies enforcing national immigration laws. On the other hand, critics assert this policy could potentially stoke fear in immigrant communities, and lead to racial profiling and other abuses.
Recently, City Hall has been veering towards an increasingly tough stance on immigration, despite staunch opposition from community groups and immigrant advocacy organizations. This latest policy not only allows, but encourages, cooperation between city employees and fed immigration authorities—a departure from the city’s previous stance, which refrained from actively aiding immigration enforcement. This development marks an undeniably contentious chapter in the city’s ongoing discourse over immigration.
