Overview

• Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Mary Rosado declared the April 8 executive order permitting an ICE office at Rikers Island null and void.
• The ruling cites an impermissible appearance of a conflict of interest given the timing after the DOJ dismissed Mayor Eric Adams’ criminal case and his failure to fully recuse.
• Rosado referenced then–acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon’s resignation letter alleging Adams’ lawyers urged what amounted to a quid pro quo on immigration enforcement.
• First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, who issued the order, said the administration will appeal, so ICE remains barred from reopening an office at the jail complex for now.
• City Council leaders who sued over the policy praised the decision, which comes against the backdrop of 2014 sanctuary laws that restrict federal immigration activity at city jails to criminal matters only.