NYC Council Sues Mayor Adams Over ICE Access at Rikers, Alleged "Quid Pro Quo

The Democrat-controlled New York City Council has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams, challenging his decision to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct investigations at Rikers Island prison. The central point of contention is an executive order issued by the mayor's office, which the council seeks to have declared "illegal, null, and void."

The lawsuit, filed in New York's Supreme Court, accuses Mayor Adams of engaging in an illicit "quid pro quo" arrangement with the Trump administration. The council alleges that Adams granted ICE access to Rikers Island in exchange for the dropping of federal corruption charges against him. These charges involved allegations of using his position to receive luxury travel and illegal campaign contributions.

The council's legal action further contends that Adams prioritized his own political ambitions over the city's established "sanctuary laws," which are designed to protect undocumented immigrants. The executive order is characterized as "the poisoned fruit" of the alleged deal with the Trump administration, with the lawsuit claiming Adams is using his official powers to reward the administration for dismissing the charges against him. The "purchase price" for this alleged arrangement, according to the suit, is the safety and well-being of immigrant communities and all New Yorkers whose rights are protected by the city's sanctuary policies.

The executive order, signed by First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, permits federal immigration authorities to operate an office at Rikers Island to assist in criminal investigations related to drug trafficking, organized violence, and migrant gang activity. The order cites the threat posed by violent transnational gangs, including those designated as foreign terrorist organizations, and emphasizes the need for federal law enforcement to share intelligence with the city's corrections department and police. However, the order explicitly states that it does not grant ICE permission to conduct civil immigration enforcement or arrest individuals solely for being undocumented.

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, a Democrat, has stated that the order is a "naked attempt" by Eric Adams to fulfill his end of the alleged bargain with the Trump administration. A spokesperson for Mayor Adams has responded to the lawsuit, dismissing it as "baseless" and "contrary to the public interest." The spokesperson emphasized that the decision to allow federal officials to investigate crimes at Rikers Island was delegated to First Deputy Mayor Mastro, who conducted an independent assessment and concluded that a federal presence was in the city's best interest to protect public safety.