Democratic NYC Mayor Won't Rule Out Rejoining Republican Party After Siding with Trump on Immigration

New York City Mayor Eric Adams avoided answering whether he would rejoin the Republican Party as he toughens his immigration stance ahead of the incoming Trump administration and its intent to conduct "the largest deportation operation in American history."

Asked directly by a Spectrum News reported if he would ever "consider rejoining the GOP," party to which he was enrolled between 1997 and 2001, Adams said the one that is most important to him is the "American party."

" I love this country. This is the home of the free, the land of the brave. My 19-year-old nephew died on the fields of Vietnam protecting what this city and this country represent. That's the party I'm always going to be a member of. I did it as a police officer when I wore that bulletproof vest for 22 years and I'm doing it with this blue suit as the mayor of New York City," Adams said.

The question comes as Adams is seemingly cozying up to Trump's rhetoric on immigration. He recently claimed that undocumented immigrants are not entitled to the right of due process under the U.S. Constitution, a statement disputed by experts.

Asked during a news briefing about how his own legal charges affect his view on migrants, the Democratic mayor— who is facing felony corruption and bribery charges in federal court— said the rights he has are not the same as someone who "snuck" into the country.

"The Constitution is for Americans," Adams told reporters at his weekly City Hall press conference. "I'm not a person that snuck into this country. My ancestors have been here for a long time."

"What rights I have, the person that decides to shoot the police officer, they should not have those same rights. OK? That's my position."

Adams also argued that undocumented people who had committed crimes should be deported, suggesting that immigration authorities should not wait for them to stand trial.

The mayor's stance was quickly contested by experts and immigration advocates. Regardless of immigration status, many of the rights in the Constitution, including due process and legal counsel, apply to everyone in the U.S. In deportation proceedings, those rights are more limited; there is no presumption of innocence, for instance, explains The Spokesman Review.

At a broader level, Adams said he is open to meeting with incoming border czar Tom Homan and discuss the deportation of migrant criminals.

"Those who are here committing crimes, shooting up officers, raping innocent people, have been a harm to our country. I want to sit down and hear the plan on how we're going to address them. Those are the people I'm talking about and I'd love to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts," Adams said during a press conference earlier this week.

Asked to clarify his comments, Adams took a combative stance, telling reporters to "Google what Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama said about those who commit crimes in our city and country." "They said they need to get out right away. This is not a new position. In the era of cancel culture no one is afraid to be honest about the truth. Well, cancel me because I'mm going to protect the people of our city," he said. Adams and Homan are set to meet on Thursday, Dec. 12.