NEW YORK — The administration of New York City Mayor Eric Adams has taken the controversial step of permitting federal immigration authorities to set up operations at the Rikers Island jail complex to assist with gang and drug-related criminal investigations. This decision has sparked criticism from immigrant rights organizations and political adversaries, who perceive it as potentially linked to the dropped corruption charges against Mayor Adams, suggesting a possible agreement to support President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The mayor’s decision, announced following a discussion in February with Trump’s border advisor Tom Homan, was formally outlined in an executive order that was released on Tuesday. This order will allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to have a presence at the Rikers Island jail, notorious for its long-standing issues of chaos and neglect, as part of efforts to avoid a federal takeover.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division, which targets transnational criminal activity, will collaborate with city corrections officials to conduct criminal investigations and share intelligence related to violent crime, gang activity, and drug trafficking within the prison system. In the past, ICE was active on Rikers Island but ceased operations following a 2014 sanctuary law that restricted such activities in city jails.
The new order signed by Mayor Adams also allows other federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and others, to have offices at Rikers to further assist with ongoing criminal investigations related to gangs and drugs. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams expressed concerns about the timing and implications of this decision, questioning its potential connection to the mayor’s cleared legal charges and his apparent cooperation with federal immigration agendas.
In response, Mayor Adams dismissed the accusations of any exchange of favors, asserting that the partnership with ICE was strictly for criminal enforcement and did not involve broader immigration enforcement, which would align with existing sanctuary policies that prohibit such collaboration.
Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro reiterated this stance, highlighting that the arrangement mirrors past collaborations with a narrowed focus on criminal activities rather than immigration enforcement. He emphasized the initiative’s primary goal is to enhance public safety for all residents of New York City.
Despite these assurances, organizations like the Legal Aid Society have voiced strong objections, asserting the measure could infringe on due process rights and discourage community cooperation with law enforcement due to fears of deportation. Additionally, the New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the order as unnecessary, claiming it undermines the city’s sanctuary laws by potentially allowing collaboration between local and federal authorities.