NYC Mayor Eric Adams to Allow ICE Operations at Rikers Island

Adams' decision follows a meeting with Trump’s border czar, as the administration escalates immigration enforcement nationwide.

Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to issue an executive order permitting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to operate at Rikers Island, revoking a 2014 sanctuary city policy that barred such cooperation.
ICE agents will focus on assisting the jail’s intelligence bureau with investigations into violent criminals and gang activity, according to Adams' statement.
The announcement comes after Adams met with Trump administration border czar Tom Homan, aligning the city with the federal government’s intensified deportation efforts.
Critics, including immigration advocates and City Council members, argue the move undermines sanctuary city protections and could jeopardize due process for detainees awaiting trial.
The Justice Department recently dropped federal corruption charges against Adams, citing his need to focus on assisting the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.