New York Judge Blocks ICE Agents From Rikers Island Prison

A New York judge Monday blocked 🛂Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering Rikers Island, setting up a major battle between Mayor Eric Adams and the liberal-dominated New York City Council.

State Supreme Court Judge Mary Rosado has temporarily barred Adams’ office and the city Department of Correction from moving forward with an executive order allowing ICE agents onto Rikers Island, the city’s largest jail complex, until a court challenge is further played out, according to an order handed down by Rosado. Rosado demanded that City Hall not take “any steps” toward finalizing the executive order until at least Friday.

The temporary restraining order may be “extended, modified, or vacated” during the next hearing on Friday, Rosado said.

The ruling comes after the New York City Council — which had publicly denounced Adams’ move to allow ICE agents back onto Rikers Island — filed a lawsuit to stop the order from being implemented. NYC Council members have accused the mayor, without evidence, of a conspiracy to help the Trump administration with its 🛂Immigration agenda in exchange for unrelated federal charges against him to be dropped.

“This isn’t public safety — it’s political blackmail,” Council Member Alexa Aviles said in a prepared statement. “Turning Rikers into an outpost for the Trump administration’s extreme agenda has nothing to do with protecting New Yorkers and everything to do with the Mayor protecting himself.”