New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said that he and President-elect Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan have the same immigration goal following their Thursday meeting in the Big Apple.
“His goal is the same goal I have,” Adams said during a press conference after his meeting with Homan. “We cannot allow dangerous individuals to commit repeated violent acts of violence in our cities across America.”
“This can’t be a safe haven for violent individuals,” he added later.
Adams emphasized that the city will protect the rights of immigrants who are “hard-working, giving back to the city in a real way.”
The Thursday meeting, which Adams requested, comes as the New York City mayor has previously raised concerns regarding undocumented migrants with criminal records being in the city. The number of migrants coming into the city has jumped in 2022 and 2023, forcing Adams to ask for additional support from the federal government.
“From what I heard from the incoming head of ICE is that we have the same desire to go after those who are committing violent acts,” Adams said.
“That’s what I heard from him and I was pleased to hear that because we share the same desire,” he added.
Just over a month ago, Trump tapped Homan, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director, to serve as his “border czar” during his second term in the White House.
Trump heavily focused on cracking down on illegal immigration during his 2024 presidential run and has said he would launch the largest deportation operation in the country’s history.
After his meeting with Adams, Homan told Dr. Phil McGraw during an interview that the next administration will perform “targeted enforcement” operations.
“This isn’t going to be neighborhood sweeps and military vehicles going through the city,” Homan said on Thursday. “I told him, you know, President Trump and myself have committed that this is going to be a targeted enforcement operation.”
“We agree on the most important things, the criminals need to be taken off the street, to protect our communities and children need to be founded safe from sex trafficking and forced labor,” Homan added.