Eric Adams responds to ruling against his plan to help ICE: ‘All part of the process’
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, known for his willingness to cooperate with the Trump administration’s crackdown on migrant crime, remains undeterred in the face of a recent ruling against his efforts to allow ICE agents into Rikers Island detention facilities. Despite criticism from Democrats nationwide, Adams, running for re-election as an Independent, laughed off the ruling as simply “part of the process.”
The lawsuit filed by the Democrat-controlled New York City Council accuses Adams of engaging in a potentially illegal quid pro quo with the Trump administration and prioritizing his own political goals over the city’s sanctuary laws. The executive order issued by Adams’ office to allow ICE agents access to Rikers Island Prison has been deemed the “poisoned fruit” of his alleged deal with the federal government.
Judge Mary Rosado recently ruled to halt any negotiations or implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and federal authorities. This ruling comes after ICE was previously banned from Rikers Island in 2014 under New York City’s sanctuary laws.
Despite this setback, Adams’ administration signed an executive order allowing federal immigration authorities to operate an office on Rikers Island. The order emphasizes the need for real-time intelligence sharing between federal law enforcement agencies and the city’s corrections department and police to combat violent transnational gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
It is important to note that the order does not grant ICE permission to carry out civil immigration enforcement and arrest individuals solely for being undocumented. Instead, it focuses on sharing intelligence about criminal gang activity both inside and outside of custody.
The timing of this executive order is significant, as it came shortly after federal charges against Adams were dismissed. The mayor had been accused of receiving luxury travel and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish foreign nationals. Adams maintained that the case was politically motivated and a form of retaliation for his criticism of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
As the legal battle continues, Adams remains steadfast in his approach to combating crime and ensuring the safety of New Yorkers. Despite facing backlash from his own party, the mayor stands by his decision to work with federal authorities in addressing the pressing issue of migrant crime.
This article was written by Peter Pinedo, a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
