New York City Mayor Adams’s plan to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to set up offices in Rikers Island prison has sparked opposition from the City Council, leading to a temporary restraining order issued by Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Mary Rosado in response to the council’s request.
In her ruling, Judge Rosado wrote, “The City Hall and all New York City government officials, employees, agencies are prohibited from taking any action, including negotiating, signing, or implementing any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the federal government regarding the deployment of federal law enforcement officers to facilities under the jurisdiction of the city Department of Correction.”
The restraining order is in effect until Friday morning, when both sides will engage in formal arguments in court.
The Adams administration has reiterated that ICE agents on Rikers Island will only handle criminal cases and will not engage in civil deportations.
However, the City Council remains distrustful of the city’s assurances, believing that allowing ICE to return to Rikers Island will trigger a wave of mass deportations, contradicting New York City’s status as a “sanctuary city.”
ICE had offices on Rikers Island in the past but were removed in 2014 when then-Mayor Bill de Blasio issued sanctuary city-related regulations.