NYC Democrat urges party to end ‘dangerous’ sanctuary policy, says officials could face criminal charges

A New York Democrat is calling on officials to repeal the law policy of the ‘sanctuary’ which he says violates federal law and endangers citizens.

NYC Councilman Robert Holden told it “Fox and Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade said Monday that city and state officials are breaking the law by protecting illegal immigrants who may be involved in criminal activity.

“We protect illegal immigrants. The governors, the Democratic governors and the mayors of these sanctuary cities are protecting criminals and terrorists,” he said.

Holden emphasized that federal and state governments must work together to crack down on illegal immigration and prevent future terror plots — pointing to a communications breakdown in the early 2000s that he said facilitated the September 11 attacks.

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Democratic New York City Councilman Robert Holden opposes the sanctuary city policy and has floated the idea of ​​suing officials if they don’t comply with federal law. (Fox News/Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

“We have terrorists who have crossed the borders. We know, and we don’t know where they are, and of course some of them are in New York City, and that’s very, very dangerous,” Holden said.

Holden noted that New York Mayor Eric Adams who has expressed his frustrations over the migrant crisis, can petition New York Governor Kathy Hochul and call on the City Council to change the sanctuary city’s laws.

He also called on President-elect Donald Trump to join in and threaten Democrats with possible jail time if they violate statutes against harboring criminal noncitizens.

“(President Trump) could actually say to the governor and the mayor, work with us or we’re going to charge you with crimes,” Holden said.

The New York Times reports this that Manuel Castro, New York’s commissioner of migrant affairs, has vowed not to follow “the federal government’s instructions in cases of mass deportations.”

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Migrants line up outside a migrant ticket reapplication center at St. Brigid School on E. 7th St. Friday, January 5, 2024 in Manhattan, New York City. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Castro’s statement reflects a trend of state and local officials saying they would reject Trump’s immigration policies. Trump campaigned in part on enforcing strict immigration laws and deporting illegal immigrants.

Trump’s commitment to closing the border was reinforced by his choice of “border czar,” Tom Homan, who served as acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the first Trump administration.

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“If you don’t want to work with us, go all out. We’re going to do it,” Homan said recently.

As a shrine city New York spent $3.7 billion on housing, food and other costs in the 2024 budget year alone.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Bill Melugin of Fox News contributed to this report.