A New York City judge has thrown a legal wrench into Mayor Eric Adams’ controversial move to open the doors of Rikers Island jail to ICE agents… a move that’s now on pause pending further legal scrutiny.
Judge Mary Rosado has issued a temporary restraining order halting any progress on Adams’ plan to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to operate from within the Rikers Island jail complex. The decision comes ahead of an April 25 court hearing that could determine the fate of the program.
The lawsuit, brought forward by the New York City Council, argues that Adams’ executive order directly undermines the city’s long-standing status as a sanctuary city. According to the suit, Adams’ directive to install a federal immigration presence inside Rikers could set a dangerous precedent by aligning with Trump-era immigration crackdowns.
Things got even more explosive when the lawsuit accused Adams of possibly striking a political deal. The City Council alleges a “quid pro quo” arrangement with the Trump administration, claiming Adams may have greenlit ICE access in exchange for leniency on federal corruption investigations linked to his office.
The lawsuit slams Adams’ executive order as “the poisoned fruit of Mayor Adams’s deal with the Trump Administration,” suggesting the Mayor prioritized his re-election bid over the integrity of the city’s immigration protections.
At the heart of the legal challenge is the belief that Adams violated city laws meant to protect undocumented New Yorkers from federal immigration enforcement. Critics argue that allowing ICE inside Rikers could intimidate immigrant detainees and unravel the city’s carefully crafted sanctuary status.
Mayor Adams, now running for re-election as an independent, has not yet publicly responded to the allegations. iHearts143Quotes has reached out to the Mayor’s office for comment.
