The top General Counsel to the city’s Department of Education has called for donations to an immigration nonprofit through a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
In a message posted on Tuesday, December 31st, via her personal X account, General Counsel Elizabeth Vladeck solicited public support for the Florence Immigration & Refugee Rights Project, an Arizona-based nonprofit that assists detained migrants and unaccompanied children facing deportation.
Vladeck’s post on New Year’s Eve comes only three weeks after Mayor Eric Adams’ meeting with incoming border czar Tom Homan. In a press conference following the December meeting, Mayor Adams expressed support for the upcoming Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies, stating that he and Homan have “the same goal” of addressing the “repeated violent acts of violence” that have been plaguing New York and other major American cities.
Mayor Adams’ support for the stricter enforcement of immigration laws is no secret. In July of this year, Adams voiced support for a bill meant to roll-back the sanctuary city policies passed during Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.
Any moves against the city’s sanctuary policies would have to be made by the City Council, an executive order by the mayor, or via a voter referendum – a prospect that has become more realistic since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in November.
The main focus of his campaign for a second presidential term was restricting immigration and securing the nation’s southern border, issues that apparently resonated with New Yorkers when they cast their votes in November. Democrats’ underwhelming performance in the recent presidential election demonstrated Trump’s growing support in historically blue cities and suburbs, especially in the Bronx, Queens, and Southern Brooklyn.
General Counsel Vladeck’s post appears to be an open dissension from Adams and city hall, and it very well could be.
It is also possible that the Department of Education is preparing for a reduction in funding and services for migrant children and the post may be attempting to bolster community-based initiatives such as the Florence Immigration & Refugee Rights Project.
If the Trump administration follows through with its plans for mass deportation, which may include ending birthright citizenship, it remains to be seen just how cooperative New York City will be.
