Exclusive | NYPD can help feds nab migrant crooks but cant act to deport them: memo
New York’s Finest have the green light to help the feds lock up migrant criminals — but can’t lift a finger to kick them out of the country, according to a recent internal NYPD memo obtained by The Post.The operations order issued Jan.18 clarifies the fine line cops have to walk under the state’s and city’s immigrant-friendly sanctuary policies — making it clear that helping deport migrants is off limits.“The department continues to work daily with federal law enforcement agencies in connection with a wide range of criminal investigations,” the document said.
“The fact that a person is present in the United States without lawful authorization is a civil matter, not a crime.“That person is subject to civil immigration enforcement by federal authorities, which may result in detention and deportation,” it said.“Accordingly, members of service are not permitted to engage in civil immigration enforcement, assist in any manner with civil immigration enforcement or allow any department resources to be used in connection with civil immigration enforcement.”The reminder from department brass comes as the Big Apple’s pro-migrant policy comes under renewed scrutiny as President Trump begins a new term in office.Just hours after he was sworn in, Trump signed a series of executive orders to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy, including eliminating the longstanding “birthright citizenship” that gives US-born children of illegal immigrants citizenship status.He also said he would deploy troops to the US border and vowed to follow through on plans to deport millions of migrants he said are in the country illegally.Trump’s new immigration czar, Tom Homan, has said sanctuary cities like Chicago and New York would be among the priorities for the crackdown.Mayor Eric Adams has pushed back against the Big Apple’s restrictive sanctuary status in recent months — but noted on Saturday that his hands are tied by the law backed by city lawmaker...