NEW YORK (PIX11) – The New York City Council filed a lawsuit against the Adams administration on Tuesday, according to court documents.
The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order regarding the administration’s Executive Order 50, which would permit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to operate on Rikers Island.
“Mayor Adams’ willingness to trade away our city’s safety in exchange for personal protection isn’t just outrageous—it’s dangerous and unlawful,” said Diana Ayala, the deputy speaker of the New York City Council. “New Yorkers deserve a mayor that defends our city and communities, not one that invites chaos upon us. Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Council are doing exactly what this moment demands: standing up for New Yorkers against a mayor failing to be accountable to the people of our city.”
ICE used to have a presence on Rikers; however, the city’s 2014 sanctuary law effectively banned ICE operations in its jails.
Court documents allege the executive order is unlawful and tainted by a conflict of interest created by a corrupt bargain the mayor entered into with the Trump administration: his freedom in exchange for an ICE office.
Adams has repeatedly brushed off the idea that he engaged with the Trump administration.
The New York City Council is asking a judge to review the temporary restraining order to prevent any ICE agents on Rikers.
PIX11 News reached out to the mayor's office for a statement, and the Adams administration stated:
The City Council appears to be spreading misinformation, so let’s be clear: To maintain the trust of the nearly 8.5 million New Yorkers our administration serves and protects every day — and to ensure there was never even the appearance of any conflict — Mayor Adams delegated all powers, responsibilities, and decision-making related to any action authorizing federal officials to investigate crimes at Rikers Island to First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. The first deputy mayor conducted a thorough and independent assessment — which included multiple visits to Rikers Island, conversations with federal law enforcement and our own Department of Correction officers, and more — and he independently concluded that a federal presence at Rikers to conduct federal criminal investigations is in New York City’s best interest and protects public safety, particularly in our ongoing efforts to target violent transnational gangs now present in our city, including those designated as terrorist organizations. Cooperation with federal law enforcement — including the FBI, DEA, ATF, Homeland Security, and U.S. Postal Inspectors — will be expressly limited to criminal law enforcement investigations, not civil matters. Executive Order 50 is expressly authorized by New York City’s local laws — the very laws enacted by the City Council. While we will review the lawsuit, this one seems baseless and contrary to the public interest in protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals. We remain committed to our administration’s efforts to reduce crime and keep New Yorkers safe — we hope the City Council will join us in doing so.
Office of New York City Mayor Eric AdamsThis story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
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