New York City Mayor Eric Adams has expressed openness to the idea of deporting migrants who have been charged with crimes.

During a Tuesday press briefing, Adams was questioned about how his own legal challenges might influence his stance on migrant rights. Facing federal corruption and bribery charges, Adams emphasized the distinction between his rights as an American citizen and those of migrants who entered the country illegally.

“I’m an American,” Adams stated. “Americans have certain rights. The Constitution is for Americans, and I’m not someone who snuck into this country. If someone decides to shoot a police officer, they should not have the same rights as I do. That’s my position.”

Adams, who has previously advocated for revisions to New York’s sanctuary city policies, indicated his willingness to collaborate with the incoming Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, to develop a plan for deporting migrants charged with serious crimes such as shootings or sexual assault.

“My stance is clear: if you commit crimes in our city, you have forfeited your right to stay here,” Adams said. He specifically referenced Bernardo Castro Mata, a 19-year-old Venezuelan migrant accused of shooting two NYPD officers, as an example of someone who should not remain in the city.

“People committing crimes—robberies, shootings, or rapes—pose a serious harm to our country,” Adams added.

The mayor’s remarks drew sharp criticism from Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, who accused Adams of undermining constitutional rights and perpetuating misinformation about due process.

“He’s taking a page out of Trump’s playbook by spreading fear and disinformation,” Awawdeh said in a statement. “The mayor should understand the Constitutional rights of the people he serves. For his own self-interest, you’d think he’d champion due process.”

Awawdeh called on Adams to retract his comments and clarify his commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of all New Yorkers.