Overview

• An executive order signed by First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro reinstates ICE and other federal agencies at Rikers Island for criminal investigations after a 10-year absence.
• The decision aims to improve intelligence sharing between federal and local law enforcement to combat violent gangs, transnational crime, and drug trafficking.
• Mayor Eric Adams recused himself from the decision-making process, delegating authority to Mastro following the dismissal of his federal corruption charges.
• The move has drawn praise from federal officials like Thomas D. Homan but has faced criticism from immigrant rights advocates, who view it as a threat to NYC’s sanctuary policies.
• This policy shift reverses a 2014 law that barred ICE from operating at Rikers, marking a significant change in NYC's approach to federal immigration enforcement.