Mayor Adams said Tuesday that immigrants should still attend their court dates and go to school in the wake of the detainment of a Bronx high school student — while emphasizing that what immigration authorities do is out of his hands.
The detainment of Dylan, 20, a Venezuelan citizen whose last name has been withheld at the request of his family, has touched off fear among immigrants, parents, educators and students.
He was arrested by ICE on Wednesday after his case was dismissed at an immigration court hearing in Manhattan, according to lawyers. That detainment was part of a nationwide enforcement blitz where ICE officers in masks reportedly staked out immigration courts across the country.
But on Tuesday, the mayor said immigrants have no reason to be afraid, as Dylan’s arrest was “not in the school building.”
“Do … I think it would discourage [immigrants]? No, I don’t,” Adams said in response to a question on whether he worries Dylan’s detainment would cause undocumented immigrants to stop going to school or skip court dates.
He also emphasized that he’s not “responsible” or “in charge” of ICE.
“My message to all immigrants, documented and undocumented, because I don’t send out a different message … is the same: Follow the law. If the law was that you had to show up to court, follow the law.”
Power Malu, an immigration advocate, said that Adams should use his relationship with Trump border czar Tom Homan to prevent Dylan’s deportation.
“As the Mayor of the City he should absolutely be concerned as this happened under his watch,” Malu said.
“If residents of the city, in this case fully legal, are not confident they may be disappeared by ICE any time, the city can not function normally,” said Naveed Hasan, co-founder of D3 Open Arms, an immigration and education advocacy group, said.
Dylan was in the country legally, but at a routine court date he attended without an attorney, he unknowingly gave up his asylum claim.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson claimed Dylan was in the country illegally.
“ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been,” the spokesperson said. “If individuals have a valid credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation.”
