U.S.: Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Immigration Agents from Operating at Rikers Island Jail
In a significant legal development, a federal judge in New York has temporarily blocked immigration agents from operating within the Rikers Island jail complex, effectively halting a recent directive issued by Mayor Eric Adams. The order, which allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to establish a presence at the correctional facility, has come under intense scrutiny and is now on hold pending further legal review.
Mayor Adams had authorized federal immigration officials to maintain offices within the jail premises, a move he argued would aid in addressing serious criminal activities such as gang violence and drug trafficking. However, the New York City Council swiftly challenged this executive decision, filing a lawsuit demanding an immediate halt to the implementation of the order.
In response to the legal challenge, Judge Mary Rosado issued a temporary stay, preventing the mayor from taking any further action to negotiate, finalize, or execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with federal authorities concerning the deployment of immigration agents at Rikers Island. The court has scheduled a full hearing on the matter for April 25.
The lawsuit filed by the City Council goes beyond administrative concerns, accusing Mayor Adams of engaging in a questionable political arrangement. The complaint alleges that Adams, a Democrat, may have struck a covert deal with former President Donald Trump’s administration, suggesting that the mayor’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement could be part of an effort to have pending Justice Department investigations or charges against him dropped. The Adams administration has strongly denied these allegations.
According to the City Council, allowing immigration agents into the Rikers facility undermines New York City’s long-standing sanctuary policies, which aim to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in order to protect undocumented residents. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ spokesperson, Julia Agoos, reiterated the Council’s commitment to defending the rights and safety of all New Yorkers. She praised Judge Rosado’s decision, emphasizing that the court’s intervention is a necessary safeguard against what she described as harmful and politically motivated actions.
While the Adams administration has argued that the agents would focus solely on assisting with investigations related to gang activity and drug trafficking — and not on civil immigration enforcement — critics remain unconvinced. A spokesperson for Mayor Adams clarified that the city has not yet signed any agreements with the federal government, and that no such step will be taken before the scheduled court hearing.
To further insulate himself from potential conflicts of interest, Mayor Adams had previously appointed Randy Mastro, his first deputy mayor, to take over all decisions related to the issue. Mastro recently confirmed that discussions with federal agencies were still ongoing, although they remain paused under the court’s order.
It’s worth noting that federal immigration authorities previously operated at Rikers Island, but their presence was effectively eliminated in 2014 following the city’s adoption of more stringent sanctuary laws. These laws were designed to curb local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to foster trust between immigrant communities and city institutions.
The upcoming hearing on April 25 is expected to provide greater clarity on the legality and implications of the mayor’s directive. Until then, immigration agents will remain barred from working within the Rikers Island jail complex.