Joint Statement from Speaker Adrienne Adams, Immigration Committee Chair Alexa Avilés, and Criminal Justice Committee Chair Sandy Nurse on Mayor Adams’ Cooperation with ICE to Subvert City Laws

 

Following Mayor Adams’ meeting with border czar Tom Homan, the mayor announced an incoming executive order to re-establish the ability for ICE agents to operate on Rikers Island for criminal enforcement. This meeting comes days after top Washington D.C. Department of Justice (DOJ) officials interfered in his criminal case and the same day several DOJ officials resigned in protest, including the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In response, Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Chair of the Committee on Immigration, and Council Member Sandy Nurse, Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice,released the following statement.

“The mayor’s announcement of the intention to issue an executive order that allows the Trump administration access to Rikers is concerning, but we must see language of any purported executive order to evaluate its legality. Today’s statement by the mayor only further connects it to the resignations at DOJ over the apparent quid pro quo identified by the recently resigned U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. Local Law 58 of 2014 has clear guidelines that prohibit the use of office space on Rikers for the enforcement of civil immigration enforcement. We are prepared to defend against violations of the law, but this announcement only deepens the concern that the mayor is prioritizing the interests of the Trump Administration over those of New Yorkers. Current city laws are specific to how and when city resources can be used for federal immigration enforcement to protect the safety of our city and its communities. The Council will determine its formal response based on the executive order.”