On Monday, the New York City Council’s Committee on Immigration held a long-awaited hearing on my bill, the NYC Trust Act (Intro 214). This legislation would finally give immigrant New Yorkers a meaningful way to hold our city agencies accountable when they violate our sanctuary city laws.
The Trust Act creates a private right of action—a legal tool that allows New Yorkers to take the NYPD, Department of Probation, and Department of Correction to court if they unlawfully share information with or cooperate with ICE. In other words, it moves our sanctuary laws from promises on paper to protections that can actually be enforced.
For years, we have known that these violations are not isolated incidents. They are systemic. As Gothamist recently reported, immigrant New Yorkers continue to face unlawful transfers and information-sharing practices that lead to detention and deportation. The Trust Act is designed to end the impunity that has allowed this harm to continue.
Monday’s hearing was also a powerful reminder that oversight matters. The Council issued formal directives requiring City Hall and agency leadership to testify about compliance with sanctuary laws. Originally, the Council was told that no one from City Hall would appear—effectively leaving New Yorkers without answers about how their own lives are being enforced. This unfortunately has become common practice, and–as in other instances–the Council proceeded with the hearing. Following sustained pressure from the Council, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner, Manuel Castro, ultimately appeared and testified in support of the bill in his personal capacity. While this gesture was notable, it is not what New Yorkers deserve.
How an Idea Becomes Council Legislation
New Yorkers often ask: if the Trust Act is so urgently needed, why did it take this long to receive a hearing? The answer lies in how legislation moves through the City Council.
Here is the basic path a bill must take:
1. Identifying the Problem and Drafting a Bill
A Council Member identifies an issue and works with advocates, community members, and the Council’s Legislative Services to draft legislation.
2. Introduction
The bill is assigned an “Intro” number, which makes it an official piece of City Council legislation, and is formally introduced at a Stated Meeting—the Council’s full, public meeting. At this point, the bill is referred to a committee, the smaller group of Council Members responsible for reviewing it. For example, the Trust Act is Intro 214 and is assigned to the Committee on Immigration.
3. Committee Hearing
The committee holds a public hearing where Council Members question city agencies, legal experts, and advocates, and members of the public can testify. Amendments may be proposed at this stage. A bill cannot move forward unless it receives a committee hearing.
4. Committee Vote
If the committee votes to advance the bill, the decision of whether to bring the legislation from the full Council rests with the Council Speaker, who oversees the Council’s legislative agenda.
5. Full Council Vote
If the Speaker decides to move the bill forward, the full Council votes to pass or reject it.
6. Mayoral Action
Once passed, the bill goes to the Mayor, may sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it. If the Mayor vetoes the bill, the Council can override the veto with a two-thirds vote (out of 51 Council Members).
This process is designed to ensure transparency, public engagement, and a strong legislative record. At the same time, it means that bills can stall if leadership does not prioritize them or if the threat of a mayoral veto looms.
The Trust Act: A Three-Year Journey
The Trust Act was first introduced in April 2022 as Intro 158. It had strong support from immigrant-rights groups and public defenders, but it faced significant obstacles—including political resistance from the Mayor’s Office and an uncertain veto-override landscape.
When bills do not advance before the end of a Council session, they expire. This is what happened with Intro 158. But the urgency behind the bill never disappeared, and I reintroduced it in the current session as Intro 214.
Bill Timeline:
Intro 158 (2022–2023 Session)
April 14, 2022: Intro 158 introduced and referred to the Committee on Immigration.
February 15, 2023: Committee hearing held; bill laid over–meaning the committee paused it after the hearing to review, consider amendments, and gather more information. It had not been voted on yet.
December 31, 2023: Session ends. All unacted bills, including Intro 158, expire.
Reintroduction as Intro 214 (2024–2025 Session)
Early 2024: Policy is reactivated using the same drafting file (LS 8441).
February 28, 2024: Intro 214 introduced in the new session and referred to the Immigration Committee.
July 17, 2024: Proposed Intro 214-A drafted with updates and amendments.
December 8, 2025: Committee on Immigration holds a hearing on Intro 214. Following testimony and questioning, the bill is amended to become Intro 214-A and laid over for further action.
Monday’s hearing marked the first major public movement of the bill in over a year, reflecting the culmination of advocacy, organizing, legal analysis, and persistent pressure to make New York City’s sanctuary laws meaningful, enforceable, and rooted in community trust.
We did not stand idly by, however. Since the bill's introduction, we have gained additional sponsors among our colleagues, and numerous organizations and unions have lobbied and rallied for its passage. In response to recent attacks from Trump’s agenda and ongoing ICE raids, support has only grown–and it shows that our city has the power to take meaningful action to protect immigrant New Yorkers.
What Comes Next?
We are not stopping. The hearing strengthened our record, widened support, and forced the Adams administration to engage with the substance of the bill. Our work now is to continue organizing, continue educating, and continue building the coalition necessary to secure its passage.
Sanctuary laws only matter if they are enforced. New York City must remain a place where all families are protected, not targeted. I am proud of the progress we have made, and remain fully committed to pushing the Trust Act forward with the urgency it deserves.
