Exclusive | Top NYC DOE lawyer urges donations for legal aid to migrants facing deportation -
Share and Follow

An official from the Department of Education in a major city is seeking contributions for a non-profit organization that assists migrants in their efforts to oppose deportation. This action has brought into question whether she is going against the mayor’s stance on collaborating with President-elect Donald Trump.

Elizabeth Vladeck, who serves as the general counsel for the Department of Education, made a plea for donations on December 31 on X platform to support the Florence Immigration & Refugee Rights Project.

Vladeck’s message emphasized the importance of contributions in advancing the organization’s objective of offering free legal and social support to detained adults and unaccompanied children who are confronting immigration removal proceedings. She urged individuals to donate to the Florence Project without delay.

Coming on the heels of Mayor Adams’ “cordial” meeting with incoming border czar Tom Homan and Hizzoner’s tougher stance on deporting migrants accused of violent crime, Vladeck’s pitch has raised some eyebrows. 

“You have a senior member of the administration, the top attorney for the city’s largest agency, who is basically bucking the mayor behind his back,” a source familiar with the DOE told The Post.

After a series of crimes allegedly involving migrants, Adams in February called for a change in the city’s sanctuary policy that sharply limits communication with federal agents, and for more cooperation with US Immigration and Customs.

After migrants injured cops making a shoplifting arrest, Adams last month said he’s open to deporting those accused of violent crimes instead of waiting for convictions to ship them off.

Most recently, he urged the NYPD to work with Homeland Security to file federal charges against the Guatemalan migrant accused of torching a woman to death on the subway.

“I am not going to be ‘warring’ with this president. I’m going to be working with this president,” said Adams.

The Florence Project, which raised $32.6 million in 2022, according to it’s latest available tax filings, has assisted thousands of migrants coming through the Arizona border with Mexico, and informs asylum seekers about their legal rights if apprehended by ICE.

The DOE’s “Project Open Arms” is aimed at supporting migrant children. In light of Trump’s threat of mass deportations, Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos recently reminded principals not to let ICE or FBI agents enter schools, but to immediately contact the legal division for instructions.

Non-local law enforcement agents will be barred without a court-issued warrant or subpoena, the DOE policy says.

David Bloomfield, an education professor at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Grad Center, sees no conflict in Vladeck’s pitch for the Florence Project.

“Her call to support the organization is consistent with DOE policies to uphold immigrant student rights, and to hold immigration authorities to their legal obligations,” he said.

The DOE insists that Vladeck followed social media protocol for city and DOE employees, saying she posted the plea for donations on New Year’s Eve when schools were closed and “on her own time.”

Vladeck did not answer questions. An auto-reply to her DOE email address said, “I am currently working on a part-time basis.”

City Hall had no comment.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Convicted killer Scott Peterson keeps swinging in court — but expert says he’s not going anywhere but his cell

Scott Peterson’s Legal Gambit: Why Experts Say His Prison Cell Is His Only Destination

Over 20 years have passed since Laci Peterson disappeared from her home…
Isis Ogunti ID'd as woman killed in Chicago shooting, car crash on 103rd Street; family offering $12K reward for arrest

Isis Ogunti Identified as Victim in Chicago Shooting and Car Crash on 103rd Street; Family Offers $12K Reward for Information Leading to Arrest

A Chicago family is reaching out to the public with a $12,000…
ICE agents open fire on van driver who allegedly tried to run them over on Christmas Eve

ICE Agents Engage in Christmas Eve Confrontation: Van Driver Allegedly Attempts to Run Over Officers

In a dramatic incident on Christmas Eve, two individuals sustained injuries after…
As MTV is axed... a look back at its best viral moments

Farewell MTV: Unforgettable Viral Moments That Shaped Pop Culture History

MTV’s launch on August 1, 1981, marked a pivotal moment in pop…
AJ Brown lands on Eagles injury report after wisdom tooth procedure

Eagles’ AJ Brown Added to Injury List Following Wisdom Tooth Surgery

Wednesday’s practice for the Eagles was notably less intense than usual. Star…
Suspect steals Bedford Park police squad car, US Postal Service truck, hits mother, 2 children in Bridgeview, officials say

Shocking Zion Incident: Woman Charged with Fatal Hit-and-Run While Allegedly Livestreaming on TikTok

A north suburban incident has led to charges against a woman who…
Nursing home explosion in Bucks County, Pennsylvania leaves 1 resident, 1 employee dead

Tragic Bucks County Nursing Home Blast Claims Lives: Latest Updates and Safety Concerns

BRISTOL, Pa. — Search teams, including construction crews and drones, combed through…
Passenger explodes at Alaska Airlines staff for refusing to let her cram 2 cats under her seat

Alaska Airlines Showdown: Passenger’s Fiery Reaction to Feline Flight Policy Sparks Controversy

A holiday traveler, now nicknamed “Two Cats Karen,” stirred up quite the…