Democrat city council sues mayor for allowing ICE into major American prison
The ongoing battle between the Democrat-controlled New York City Council and Mayor Eric Adams has escalated to a new level, with the council filing a lawsuit against the mayor for allegedly cooperating with the Trump administration. The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court of New York, seeks to declare an executive order by the mayor’s office allowing ICE to conduct immigration investigations at Rikers Island Prison as “illegal, null, and void.”
The city council accuses Adams of engaging in a “quid pro quo” with the Trump administration by allowing ICE into Rikers Island in exchange for having federal corruption charges against him dropped. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is running to unseat Mayor Adams, claims that the executive order is a result of a corrupt bargain between Adams and the Trump administration.
The executive order, signed by New York City First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, permits federal immigration authorities to operate an office on Rikers Island to assist in criminal investigations related to drug trafficking, organized violence, and migrant gang activity. The order emphasizes the need for federal law enforcement to share real-time intelligence with the city’s corrections department and police to combat violent transnational gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
Although the order allows federal law enforcement agencies to share intelligence with the corrections department and NYPD, it does not authorize ICE to carry out civil immigration enforcement or arrest individuals solely based on their immigration status. The order was issued shortly after federal charges against Mayor Adams were dismissed, with Adams claiming the case was politically motivated in retaliation for his criticism of President Biden’s immigration policies.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams called it “baseless” and “contrary to the public interest.” The spokesperson clarified that Mayor Adams had delegated all decision-making related to authorizing federal officials to investigate crimes at Rikers Island to First Deputy Mayor Mastro. Mastro conducted a thorough assessment and concluded that a federal presence at Rikers Island is in the city’s best interest to target violent transnational gangs and protect public safety.
The spokesperson reiterated the administration’s commitment to reducing crime and keeping New Yorkers safe, urging the city council to join in these efforts. The lawsuit, which accuses Mayor Adams of prioritizing his personal interests over the city’s sanctuary laws, is set to be reviewed as the legal battle between the city council and the mayor continues to unfold.
