Sanctuary laws terrorize New Yorkers

Team Trump had no choice but to sue New York City over its disastrous sanctuary-city laws, especially after a pair of illegal immigrants were accused of shooting an off-duty Border Patrol agent in a Manhattan park.

But if President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi or Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem think Mayor Eric Adams, the NYPD or any other city agency is in any way responsible for those laws, they’re badly mistaken.

The suit names Adams, the police and other agencies and officials as well as the City Council as defendants. Citing Adams might be a legal necessity; it explicitly lists him “in his official capacity,” and it concedes that he has opposed Gotham’s sanctuary laws.

Yet Team Trump has also expressed anger at the mayor personally for the city’s failure to cooperate with ICE in rounding up illegal immigrants, particularly criminal ones.

Noem blasted Adams outright, along with the council, after Saturday night’s border-guard shooting.

“This officer is in the hospital today, fighting for his life, because of the policies of the mayor of the city and the City Council,” Noem roared.

“When I look at what Mayor Adams has done to New York City, it breaks my heart to see the families that have suffered because of his policies.”

Noem is right to be mad at the council, but she couldn’t be more wrong about Adams.

Again, he’s fought to roll back sanctuary laws.

He tried to allow ICE agents back into Rikers so they can take custody of illegal immigrants in the safety of the jails, rather than on the streets, where the dangers are greater and more agents are required.

He has been cooperating with border czar Tom Homan, and is on record saying he wants to work with the feds.

For his pains he’s been attacked by the hard left and called an extremist.

But the law is the law, and city government must follow it.

As Adams noted correctly Friday, any changes to the laws “must come through the City Council.”

If the Justice Department’s suit can force the council to scrap its sanctuary rules, it’ll be a great boon to public safety.

Those laws, like the state’s sanctuary laws, allow violent illegal-immigrant criminals to elude detention and deportation.

Indeed, the city has been ignoring ICE detainers by the thousands, leaving potentially violent illegal immigrants free to roam the streets.

The pair accused of shooting the border guard had been in custody here and ICE had requested NYC Corrections to detain them for deportation, yet they were let go anyway.

The suit also seems to be on firm grounds legally: The Constitution, Congress and the Supreme Court make it clear that immigration is the responsibility of the federal government.

And while states and cities aren’t obligated to help with that, they’re not allowed to impede federal agents’ efforts.

Letting a wanted illegal immigrant go free is akin to abetting a fugitive from justice.

Keep your fingers crossed that Team Trump prevails in this suit.

But remember, too, that Adams is on the right side of it.