Adams’ immigration chief testifies at council hearing, but not as a member of the administration

The Adams administration did not officially take part in a City Council hearing Monday on immigration protections, but after being confronted about its absence, the mayor’s top immigration official showed up and testified on a personal basis.

The council’s efforts come amid fears of stepped up immigration crackdowns in New York after a recent immigration sweep in Chinatown. The Trump administrations’ aggressive deportation efforts have sparked fear and anxiety in immigrant communities across the city.

“It is important for me to be on the record in support of all these bills, and in support of all of you in making sure that the City Council finally passes these laws,” Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manual Castro said at the meeting.

At least one of the four bills runs counter to an effort the Adams administration made earlier this year that would have allowed ICE to set up shop on Rikers Island. A judge shut that effort down, and the council wants to make that ban permanent. Another bill would create a private path to recourse for individuals who allege a violation of local detainer laws.

Castro’s arrival followed an unusual sequence of events at City Hall.

Mayor Adams declined to send anyone to testify in an official capacity at the meeting, sparking sharp criticism.

“They seem to have decided that being held accountable for their work is not worth their time,” Alexa Aviles, the immigration committee’s chair, said at the meeting said. “It is clear by the empty chairs before you that this administration thinks very little of our communities.”

The administration submitted written testimony on the bills to the Council on Wednesday.

“City Council’s going to do what they’re doing. We’re going to do what we’re doing,” Mayor Adams said of his administration’s official absence from the hearing at an unrelated press conference at City Hall, minutes before Castro testified.

“We got a lot of work to do before the 31st. I am so interested in keeping things going.”

The mayor also singled out Castro, telling him that “you don’t have to sit down in any chair, in any room, but you’re in the street getting the job done,” Adams added, speaking to Castro, who flanked him at the press conference.

But Castro, as it turns out, did sit in a chair.

The commissioner was personally asked by Councilmember Tiffany Caban to attend the meeting and used his right to testify in his personal capacity before the Council after the mayor’s remarks wrapped.

Adams has just three weeks left in office before Mayor-elect Mamdani is sworn in on Jan. 1. His administration previously was a no-show to two Council oversight hearings this year. The two sides of City Hall have had an often-contentious relationship over Adams’ term.

“It is a disgusting shame that Mayor is not doing his and I am glad that you are at least here right now, testifying in your personal capacity in support of these bills,” Caban said to Castro at the meeting.