Immig-mania risks $afety

THE CITY says a $4.3 million grant named for an NYPD officer might be held hostage because the feds misunderstand its policies toward undocumented immigrants.

In a letter to the Department of Justice on Friday, the city’s top lawyer argued there’s no legal basis to strip the city’s federal funding over its sanctuary city status. The policies “exist in harmony with federal law and bedrock principles of local sovereignty and control,” corporation counsel Zachary Cater wrote.

President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have vowed to pull federal funding for public safety from cities that have sanctuary city laws. The laws protect undocumented people from immigration authorities unless they are charged with serious crimes.

Sessions has said that cities that don’t help enforce immigration law are endangering public safety, especially when it comes to sharing information about immigrants who have been accused of crimes.

New York City is anticipating $4.3 million under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which pays for public safety equipment. Carter said the city is “deeply committed to preserving this funding.”