But Mullin did not answer every constitutional question. The Court accepted the government’s argument that its actions reflected a general opposition to TPS rather than hostility toward Haitians. Whether a race-neutral explanation ends that inquiry remains an open constitutional question. While immigration regulation belongs primarily to the federal government, New York City retains independent constitutional responsibilities. The remaining question is whether New York City’s response adequately protects due process, equal protection, property interests, and the constitutional rights of a uniquely vulnerable population before compliance with a federal mandate becomes a justification for constitutional abandonment.