New York Judge Mary Rosado temporarily blocked Mayor Eric Adams from allowing federal immigration authorities to operate at the Rikers Island jail complex.
Although small, it is a win as far as combating the abuse of power by both individuals.
This decision came as a result of a lawsuit presented against Adams, where he was accused of a “corrupt quid pro quo bargain” between himself and the Trump Administration. The phrase quid pro quo is Latin for “something for something.”
The accusation started when Adams began meeting with Trump and notes surfaced from Adams’ attorney, who repeatedly stated that Adams would “be in a position to help enforcement policies if the indictment was dismissed”.
Since the Trump administration needed Adams’ help in securing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York jails, it would have made sense to put him in a position that would allow him to do so. Adams cannot approve of these plans if he is facing indictment charges.
The fact is that the federal charges against Adams were indeed dropped and he signed an executive order, initially allowing ICE to reopen offices at Rikers.
Tthe City Council retaliated by filing a lawsuit against him on April 15, arguing that the executive order to establish the office was “tainted by the conflict of interest created by the corrupt bargain the mayor entered into” with the Trump Administration and was ultimately unlawful.
Adams denied the allegations — as he has done since the beginning — and promised to fight the lawsuit.
Furthermore, he claimed that the inclusion of ICE and other federal agencies within the jail would “allow them to assist in gang and drug-related investigations” and reassured that “they would have no role in civil immigration enforcement”.
The Trump Administration claimed it needed access to the jails to continue with the president’s immigration crackdown.
ICE agents have not operated on Rikers since they were banned in 2014, due to the sanctuary laws that were passed to stop the transfer of jailed undocumented immigrants to ICE custody for deportation. Adams’ decision to reverse those sanctions for his own personal gain is vile and dangerous. The arrogance seeped through his words as he called the policy, a “common-sense policy.”
The allowance of federal agencies to operate in alleged safe space creates a precedent where administrators can ignore previously written laws protecting those occupying said space and push forward with unlawful policies.
Unfortunately, common sense is not so common for Adams, who has failed to realize that his decision would effectively pave the way for ICE to be able to deport detainees from Rikers. One has to wonder where these ICE agents plan to go if they can enter previously sanctioned places.
Speaker Adrienne Adams, a spokesperson for City Council, said that “the Council stands firm in their efforts to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers against attacks by the Trump Administration and its agents”.
The statement is optimistic, saying that the council looked forward to Friday’s hearing and would continue their efforts in arguing for the public safety of its city.
The determination of the City Council and Rosado to call out the corruption and protect the sanctions in New York filled many with hope and reassurance. It showed that others also see the injustices occurring and there is a plan to address the corruption — a step in the right direction.
