The Trump administration appears to be laying the groundwork to deny federal funding to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and other regional transit partners if local officials do not cooperate with federal immigration actions. In a January memo from the Department of Transportation (DOT), obtained by Crain’s New York Business, the agency issued new guidance on which transit entities and projects it will prioritize for federal grants and loans. One of the new priorities, according to the order, is that recipients cooperate with federal immigration officials, and “other goals and objectives specified by the President.”
MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said new guidance has not been provided to employees on interactions with federal immigration (ICE) officials, but added that the MTA will comply with future federal actions on mass transit and its properties related to criminal investigations.
“Searching for people’s papers in public transit is a recipe for disaster. It won’t make anyone safe; it’s the opposite of efficient government,” said Danny Pearlstein, policy and communications director at the Riders Alliance. “All transit riders want and deserve to be safe. In order for that to be possible, law enforcement needs to take a targeted approach.”
Source: Crain’s New York Business
