New York City Moves to Ban ICE from Local Correctional Facilities

New York City is set to prohibit ICE from operating in 19 correctional facilities within the city, including Rikers Island.

Mayor Zoran Mamdani is anticipated to sign the Safeguarding Act soon, which would greatly enhance restrictions on collaboration between city and federal agents related to immigration enforcement. Currently, the city’s sanctuary status mainly pertains to cooperation with ICE.

This bill, initiated by socialist City Council member Tiffany Caban from Astoria, passed through the city council in December but faced a veto from Mayor Eric Adams on his last day in office.

A Manhattan judge previously blocked Adams’ bid to reopen an ICE office on Rikers, citing that he aimed to benefit the Trump administration after the dismissal of criminal charges against him.

On Thursday, the City Council voted 44-7 to override Adams’ veto, setting the stage for a confrontation with the Trump administration.

The Democratic Socialists of America, collaborating with Caban on the bill’s creation, celebrated their achievement during a legislative session that evening.

“I’m so excited,” said a DSA leader named Rachel, who had partnered with Caban and NABE to influence the setting of “legislative priorities” by Councilmember Alexa Aviles.

“What it does is respond to the way Trump is currently weaponizing ICE,” she added.

“City officials are no longer just avoiding collaboration with ICE; they’re also distancing themselves from federal agencies, especially those used for aggressive immigration enforcement,” she explained, referencing past raids where federal authorities targeted illegal street vendors and immigrants.

This initiative coincides with Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent proposal for a state-level version of the bill, aiming to dissolve existing agreements between local and federal law enforcement entities.