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NYC Council sues Mayor Adams to block ICE on Rikers
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Apr 15, 2025
Modified Apr 15, 2025
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Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Apr 15, 2025
Modified Apr 15, 2025
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The New York City Council filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Mayor Eric Adams over his administration’s decision to allow federal immigration agents on the Rikers Island jail complex.
The complaint accuses Adams of entering into a “corrupt bargain” with the Trump administration to get his federal corruption charges dropped. A judge permanently dismissed the corruption case earlier this month.
“The ‘purchase price’ — which was agreed to in advance and is now being proffered — is the safety and well-being of immigrant communities and all New Yorkers whose rights are protected by our city's prized sanctuary laws,” the lawsuit reads.
Adams has maintained his innocence and said he did not enter an improper deal with the Trump administration.
The City Council is asking a judge to review a temporary restraining order to prevent the city from allowing any federal law enforcement personnel on Rikers.
“Once again, this City Council is standing firm to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers against attacks by the Trump administration—because the city’s mayor won’t stop placing his own personal interests ahead of the people of our city,” Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is running for mayor herself, said in a statement. “New York cannot afford its mayor colluding with the Trump administration to violate the law, and this lawsuit looks to the court to uphold the basic standard of democracy, even if our mayor won’t.”
The Adams administration granted federal authorities the right to work out of offices on Rikers last week for the first time in more than a decade.
The executive order “is expressly authorized by New York City’s local laws — the very laws enacted by the City Council,” mayoral spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said in a statement. “While we will review the lawsuit, this one seems baseless and contrary to the public interest in protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly made clear that one of its top priorities is rolling back New York City’s sanctuary laws, which bolster legal protections for undocumented immigrants. Advocates who fought to remove federal authorities from Rikers said their presence at a city jail effectively denied undocumented immigrants due process.
The Adams administration has stated that allowing ICE to operate on Rikers will not infringe on the city’s sanctuary laws. The order Mastro signed argues that “It is critical that federal law enforcement agencies are able to share intelligence with the [Department of Correction] and NYPD in real time about criminal gang activity among individuals both inside and outside of DOC custody.”
When ICE previously operated on Rikers Island, thousands of immigrants were deported, including those without convictions or who had committed only minor crimes.
In a highly unusual arrangement, the executive order to allow ICE back on Rikers was handed down by First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro.
After Politico reported that the mayor had recused himself from signing the order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest after Trump’s Department of Justice ordered his charges dropped, Adams denied his recusal. The lawsuit hinges on accusations of quid pro quo, arguing that the executive order was illegal if the mayor did not in fact recuse himself.
Mamelak Altus said the mayor had “delegated” the decision to Mastro, who conducted “a thorough and independent assessment.”
Mastro “independently concluded that a federal presence at Rikers to conduct federal criminal investigations is in New York City’s best interest and protects public safety, particularly in our ongoing efforts to target violent transnational gangs now present in our city, including those designated as terrorist organizations,” Mamelak Altus said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Tagged
new york city
Politics
eric adams
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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