Democrat warns against strict border control in NYC

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Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) has expressed strong opposition to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ recent plan to collaborate with Border Czar Tom Homan, warning against measures that could transform the city into what he describes as a “police state.”

During a segment on “CNN News Central,” host Sara Sidner questioned Espaillat about Adams’ intentions, specifically referencing the mayor’s corruption case dismissal and his subsequent alignment with Donald Trump’s immigration policies. When asked whether Democrats should support Adams’ initiative, Espaillat’s response was unequivocal.

Fentanyl kills countless young Americans each year because of drug trafficking at the southern border.
 
President Trump has been very clear that America will continue to apply economic pressures on Mexico until they commit to border security. pic.twitter.com/z6zV4liCrV

— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) March 6, 2025

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“Absolutely not,” Espaillat stated. “We should work together to ensure that DREAMers that have been here on an average over 20 years, have paid their taxes, haven’t committed any crimes, are regularized, that farm workers, many of which are not going to the farms, and, therefore, we’re going to see increases at the cash register, are protected, and that families are kept united. I think there should be guardrails in New York City and in other cities so that we won’t go overboard and become, really, a police state.”

Espaillat’s stance reflects growing concerns within the Democratic party about the direction of immigration enforcement in major cities, particularly regarding the treatment of long-term residents and essential workers.

NOW: National Guard is posted up along the US Southern Border in El Paso across from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Thousands of illegal immigrants are gathering to enter into the US illegally despite Title 42 being halted.https://t.co/07G2tc2mLn pic.twitter.com/vQDKpnAeDc

— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) December 21, 2022