Governor Cuomo, Candidate for Mayor, Announces 6-Point Plan in Response to Trump's Deployment of Federal Troops to Los Angeles
“The chaotic scenes playing out in Los Angeles and spreading to other cities across the country are understandably creating a sense of panic and fear. Our nation feels out of control. Make no mistake, this crisis is in large part manufactured for political gain.
“Throughout his campaign for President, at every turn, President Trump told Americans he would focus and prioritize immigration enforcement on the worst criminals here illegally. Instead, Trump is deploying ICE to sow fear at immigration hearings and Home Depots and grabbing people off the street, out of their homes and work places – this isn’t the enforcement strategy Americans were promised, it is illegal activity by our federal government.
“Trump is doing this by design. The scenes from Los Angeles showing cars burning, people throwing rocks at police and masked rioters is the narrative that Trump wants told: Trump wants Americans to believe that Democratic cities are home to violent illegal immigrants and out of control activists, and that therefore the unconstitutional and thuggish actions of ICE officials are somehow justified. We must not play into Trump’s hands. Peaceful protest is enshrined in the constitution, but looting and destruction of property is unlawful and cannot be tolerated.
“What’s next? Expect the same strategy to be deployed in New York City, and in other cities.
“It is essential that we learn from the events unfolding in Los Angeles and prepare now, so New York City does not repeat the same mistakes.
1. New Yorkers will be rightly outraged by the federal due process violations and the human tragedy. Our city should now coordinate with immigration groups, faith leaders, and community organizations to identify and plan peaceful demonstration locations and strategies. We do not want demonstrations randomly occurring throughout the city, stressing police resources and fostering a lack of control.
We must proactively identify public spaces where peaceful protests can occur safely. Equip these areas with water stations, first aid, and accessible restrooms. Ensure city agencies facilitate—not obstruct—people’s right to protest, making New York a model of civic dignity.
2. We must create a standing interagency team of city attorneys, civil rights advocates, and former prosecutors to track federal overreach, coordinate rapid responses to ICE actions, and defend New Yorkers’ constitutional rights. This task force will ensure that New York is legally ready to defend ourselves when a crisis is manufactured, by guaranteeing immediate legal defense for anyone targeted in an ICE raid without due process, partnering with legal nonprofits and public defenders to ensure every person has adequate representation and due process—no exceptions, no delays.
3. The NYPD should be pre-deployed and be coordinated with the groups who will be organizing demonstrations so that cooperation is maintained and there is no reason for federal engagement. The NYPD is the largest police force in the country, and unless there are obvious signs of civil unrest the president will have no justification for calling in federal troops.
The NYPD should maintain a strong public safety presence that is focused on facilitating peaceful protest—not intimidating legal actors. NYPD and city agencies will be trained and directed to use de-escalation tactics wherever possible. But we will not allow violence or chaos to take hold in our city. Protest is a right—we will defend it vigorously. There is no right to disorder that endangers others and it will not be tolerated.
4. The Governor should have the National Guard on standby in the improbable case that the NYPD needs assistance and additional personnel, but also to act in advance of President Trump.
5. The city should call together the leaders of the interested organizations, and the public should be made aware of the goal of any demonstrations, which is to express legitimate outrage at constitutional violations. A coordinated message strategy will thwart Trump’s ability to pervert the message to his own advantage. In short, it is ICE that operates in violation of the law, not the demonstrators.
We must engage respected community, immigrant, faith, and youth leaders across the five boroughs to serve as local peacekeepers and trusted messengers. Their presence during tense moments will help keep protests peaceful and prevent escalation.
6. Legal monitors must make sure that the NYPD follows and enforces New York City’s sanctuary laws. Mayor Adams is in a clearly compromised position and has been overly cooperative with ICE. He must be stopped from allowing the NYPD to be complicit in violating New York City law. Trump would like nothing more than for Democratic cities across the country, including New York City, to look like a den of out of control rioters wreaking havoc - we must instead effectively stand up for due process and the constitution.
“Trump only wins when Democrats lose. He demonstrated his strategy in Los Angeles – we will not let it happen in NYC.”
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