The word “sanctuary” conjures up a vision of safety, protection, and shelter. But in a sanctuary city like New York — a place as wealthy as it is impoverished — can immigrants really feel safe?

In early April, many New Yorkers were surprised to learn that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) was tipping off Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents about immigrants’ court dates. Mayor Bill de Blasio, like other liberal big city leaders, had loudly voiced his opposition to Donald Trump and professed his support for maintaining New York as a sanctuary city. He’d vowed to protect immigrants and not honor ICE detainers.

And now New York City was apparently fueling the deportation machine.