Brooklyn officials stood together on Monday, passionately calling into question the relationship between federal immigration officials and the city police department.
“We are a sanctuary city. So we don’t want the NYPD helping ICE in any way, shape or form,” Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said.
“In this country, even undocumented people have rights,” Rep. Nydia Velázquez said.
What You Need To Know
Brooklyn officials stood together on Monday, passionately calling into question the relationship between federal immigration officials and the city police department
At issue: the NYPD’s efforts to disperse a crowd protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at Wyckoff Medical Center on Sunday morning
Lawmakers allege that the actions of the officers, who can be seen in Citizen app video moving protestors who were blocking an entrance to the hospital, equate to coordination — a violation of sanctuary laws
A spokesperson for the police department said officers were called to the hospital after numerous 911 calls about “disorderly groups”
In total, eight people were arrested and are facing charges of resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief
At issue: the NYPD’s efforts to disperse a crowd protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at Wyckoff Medical Center on Sunday morning.
Lawmakers allege that the actions of the officers, who can be seen in Citizen app video moving protestors who were blocking an entrance to the hospital, equate to coordination — a violation of sanctuary laws.
“We don’t want any assistance, don’t hold their doors. Don’t push them through. That’s them. You are New York City, and in New York City, we take care of our immigrants,” Reynoso said.
“I want to second that ask to Commissioner Tisch, because we know the rules, we’ve heard her at hearings say they will not collaborate, they will not coordinate, while we saw that happening,” City Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez said.
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, called for an investigation into the police department’s actions.
“I get the whole crowd control aspect of it, but at what point does control equal collusion?” he asked.
Awawdeh said there needs to be more clarity on how police respond to protests during immigration enforcement actions in the city.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani rejected the allegations at an unrelated event.
“There cannot be any work in coordination with ICE, in planning with ICE, and there was none of that when it comes to Wyckoff, and there cannot be any assistance in civil immigration enforcement, and there was none of that,” the mayor said.
A spokesperson for the police department said officers were called to the hospital after numerous 911 calls about “disorderly groups.”
In total, eight people were arrested and are facing charges of resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defended its actions in a social media post saying officers were conducting a “targeted enforcement operation in Brooklyn that resulted in the arrest of Chidozie Wilson Okeke, a criminal illegal alien from Nigeria with previous arrests for ASSAULT AND CRIMINAL DRUG POSSESSION.”
The statement goes on to note that Okeke requested medical attention after his arrest, at which point he was brought to the hospital. While Okeke was being evaluated, the crowd started to form.
“Whatever infractions this person may have had, they still have rights, and I think that’s the piece the Trump administration wants you to not believe,” Awawdeh said.