New York City Council sues to stop ICE from coming into Rikers Island

The New York City Council is suing the Adams administration to stop it from returning the Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Rikers Island jail complex, from which the agency was banned by law a decade ago.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday at state Supreme Court in Manhattan, accuses Mayor Eric Adams of facilitating an executive order last week to bring back ICE — exiled from office space on Rikers — in exchange for the Trump administration having the federal corruption prosecution against Adams dismissed.

"Today, in New York City, a corrupt bargain is taking place in plain view: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, acting through his first deputy mayor, is using his official powers to pay off the Trump Administration for dropping criminal charges against him," the suit says. "The 'purchase price' — which was agreed to in advance and is now being proffered — the safety and well-being of immigrant communities and all New Yorkers whose rights are protected by our City's prized sanctuary laws."

Last week, Adams' first deputy, Randy Mastro, issued the order, allowing ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies to get office space to do investigations of inmates on the island, aiding in President Donald Trump's promised largest deportation operation in American history.

Adams, who in February had promised Trump's border czar that ICE would be allowed back, last week recused himself from decision making on the Rikers return. Hours later, Mastro issued the order.

The order says that federal personnel on the island would coordinate "criminal investigations and related intelligence sharing focused on violent criminals and gangs, crimes committed at or facilitated by persons in DOC custody, and drug trafficking."

The administration says the order conforms to city law because the law makes an exception for cooperation on non-civil enforcement.

The suit asks the court to rule that the order is in violation of city law, as enacted under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, void the order and block its enforcement. 

The czar, Tom Homan, had told Adams in February during a joint appearance on Fox News: "If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York City, and we won’t be sitting on the couch, I’ll be in his office, up his butt, saying, ‘Where the hell is this agreement we came to?’"

Adams’ press secretary, Kayla Mamelak Altus, said Tuesday in an email: "While we will review the lawsuit, this one seems baseless and contrary to the public interest in protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals."

Newsday reported last year that the city once helped facilitate thousands of deportations a year but in 2024 the number had dwindled to 11.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.