The New York City Council filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams (D) on Tuesday, preventing immigration and customs enforcement from returning to Rikers Island.
Last week, Adams’ first vice mayor, Randy Mastro, issued an executive order that allowed ICE to occupy office space on Rikers Island, a prison site managed by the city’s Department of Corrections.
“We review the lawsuit, which appears to be unfounded and contrary to the public interest of protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals.”
ICE was previously launched from the area in 2014. Bill de Blasio (D) at the time officially protected the New York City sanctuary policy, which ultimately protects illegal foreigners at the expense of public safety.
Mastro’s actions indicate the need for federal law enforcement officials to be “important” on the island, particularly to curb “criminal gang activity.”
“New York City’s safety is at risk by violent multinational gangs and criminal enterprises, including cross-border gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, which are designated by federal authorities as foreign terrorist organizations.”
“There is a historic precedent for federal law enforcement to have office space and staff on Rikers Island recently, just as 10 years ago.”
The Adams administration pointed out that Ice’s return to Rikers Island is not inconsistent with the city’s sanctuary law, as government agencies can only coordinate criminal investigations and not civil matters.
The council’s lawsuit argues that Mastro has no authority to issue orders and cites the failure to complete a “meaningful independent analysis.”
Additionally, the council claims it is tied to a “corrupted bargain” between Adams and the Trump administration in order to drop a criminal case against him. Adams and the White House have denied the Quid Pro Quo claim.
“The “purchase price” that has been agreed in advance and is now offered is the safety and happiness of the immigrant community and all New Yorkers. I’ll read.
“This council has repeatedly stood to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers from attacks by the Trump administration, as it will not stop the mayor of the city from placing their interests before the people of our cities.”
“New York cannot afford a mayor who conspires with the Trump administration to violate the law. The lawsuit is turning to courts to support basic democratic standards, even if the mayor doesn’t,” she added.
Mayor’s spokesman Kayla Mamerak Altas told Gossamist that Mastro’s enforcement actions are “explicitly approved by the local laws of New York City, exactly the laws enacted by the city council.”
She said Mastro “independently concluded that the existence of the federal government to conduct federal criminal investigations at Riker is New York City’s number one concern, and that in its ongoing efforts to target violent transnational gangs present in our city, including those designated as terrorist organisations, will protect public safety.”
“We will consider the lawsuit, but this appears to be unfounded and contrary to the public interest of protecting New Yorkers from violent offenders,” added Mamelak Altas.
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