New York City Council sues to shield illegal aliens from ICE's return to Rikers Island



The New York City Council filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Mayor Eric Adams (D) to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement from returning to Rikers Island.

Last week, Adams' first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro, issued an executive order allowing ICE to occupy office space at Rikers Island, the site of a prison managed by the city's Department of Correction.

'While we will review the lawsuit, this one seems baseless and contrary to the public interest in protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals.'

ICE was previously booted from the area in 2014 after then-Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) formalized New York City's sanctuary policy protecting illegal aliens ultimately at the expense of public safety.

Mastro's action indicated that there is a "critical" need for federal law enforcement officers' presence on the island to enable them to share intelligence with the DOC and the New York Police Department, particularly to curb "criminal gang activity."

The order stated, "The safety of the City of New York has been jeopardized by violent transnational gangs and criminal enterprises — including transnational gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua — that have been designated by federal authorities as foreign terrorist organizations."

"There is historical precedent for federal law enforcement authorities to have office space and personnel on Rikers Island as recently as a decade ago," it read.

Adams' administration noted that ICE's return to Rikers Island would not conflict with the city's sanctuary laws because it allows the agency to coordinate only on criminal investigations and not civil matters.

The council's lawsuit argues that Mastro lacked the authority to issue the order, further citing that he failed to first complete a "meaningful independent analysis."

Additionally, the council claims that the action was tied to an alleged "corrupt bargain" between Adams and the Trump administration to have the criminal case against him dropped. Adams and the White House have denied any allegations of a quid pro quo.

"The 'purchase price' — which was agreed to in advance and is now being proffered — is the safety and well-being of immigrant communities and all New Yorkers whose rights are protected by our city's prized sanctuary law," the lawsuit reads.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is running against Mayor Adams in the upcoming election, stated, "Once again, this City Council is standing firm to protect the rights and safety of all New Yorkers against attacks by the Trump administration — because the city's mayor won't stop placing his own personal interests ahead of the people of our city."

"New York cannot afford its mayor colluding with the Trump administration to violate the law, and this lawsuit looks to the court to uphold the basic standard of democracy, even if our mayor won't," she added.

Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokesperson for the mayor, told the Gothamist that Mastro's executive action "is expressly authorized by New York City's local laws — the very laws enacted by the City Council."

She noted that Mastro "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."

"While we will review the lawsuit, this one seems baseless and contrary to the public interest in protecting New Yorkers from violent criminals," Mamelak Altus added.

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Latest Democrat Gaslighting Is Laughably Shameless

Perhaps the governor is counting on fluoride-induced short-term memory loss to convince constituents of his authenticity

NYC welcomes ICE back to Rikers Island after lengthy ban



New York City Mayor Eric Adams' (D) administration announced Tuesday that it would reopen Rikers Island to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a decade-long ban.

ICE previously had an office on the island, the site of a prison managed by the New York City's Department of Correction, but it was ousted after the city formalized its sanctuary policy under former Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) in 2014.

'This is about public safety and protecting all New Yorkers.'

At the time, de Blasio's administration touted how its new bills would "dramatically reduce" the city's cooperation with ICE, including removing law enforcement from "Rikers Islands and all City facilities."

"Mass deportation has not only pulled apart thousands of New York City families, it has also undermined public safety in our communities and imposed disproportionate penalties on immigrant parents and spouses who these families depend on for emotional and financial support," de Blasio stated.

On Tuesday evening, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro issued an executive order calling for ICE's return to Rikers Island, citing a "critical" need for federal law enforcement agencies to have the ability to share "real-time" intelligence with the DOC and the New York Police Department, particularly regarding "criminal gang activity."

"The safety of the City of New York has been jeopardized by violent transnational gangs and criminal enterprises — including transnational gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua — that have been designated by federal authorities as foreign terrorist organizations," the EO read.

"There is historical precedent for federal law enforcement authorities to have office space and personnel on Rikers Island as recently as a decade ago," it added.

The invitation to occupy office space at Rikers Island was also extended to other federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Mastro stated, "Today, I have entered an executive order to re-establish a federal law enforcement office space at Rikers Island solely for criminal investigations, consistent with New York City law, after Mayor Adams delegated all powers and responsibilities related to this topic to me. This directive is driven by one priority and one priority alone: to keep all New Yorkers safe."

He explained that he made the decision after conducting "an independent assessment of the facts and law."

Mastro stated that the new executive action does not conflict with the city's existing sanctuary laws.

"Again, this executive order is expressly limited to establishing office space and coordinating with federal law enforcement on criminal investigations, not civil matters," Mastro continued. "This is about public safety and protecting all New Yorkers."

Adams' office said safety and transparency are among the mayor's top priorities.

"To maintain trust among the nearly 8.5 million New Yorkers who our administration serves every day, Mayor Adams has delegated all powers and responsibilities related to any executive order to authorize federal officials to investigate potential criminal immigration violations at Rikers Island to First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro," the statement read. "The first deputy mayor has visited Rikers multiple times over the last week, has consulted with DOC and law enforcement officials, is reviewing the city's options, and would ultimately sign any executive order that he determines to be appropriate."

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NYC to return another $106M in FEMA cash as Trump ends illegal immigration spending



The Trump administration’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has warned New York City that it plans this month to take back another $106 million in federal funds that the city received under former President Joe Biden to address the ongoing illegal immigration crisis.

In February, President Donald Trump demanded that New York City return more than $80 million in immigration-related funding. The action prompted Mayor Eric Adams (D) to take legal action against the administration, which remains ongoing.

'The Department, consistent with President Trump’s direction, is focused on advancing the essential mission of enforcing immigration laws and securing the border.'

“Like their previous actions clawing back appropriated funds, these steps are unlawful, and the New York City Law Department is currently determining the best legal recourse to take to ensure that this money remains in New York City, where it was allocated and belongs,” Adams stated.

“As I have repeatedly said, New York City did not create this crisis — it was caused by decades of federal inaction and failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform,” he added.

Adams has contended that the city’s taxpayers alone should not have to bear the burden of the immigration crisis created by the Biden administration. He called the FEMA funds “the bare minimum our taxpayers deserve.”

“With minimal help from the federal government, our administration has skillfully managed an unprecedented migrant crisis, during which more than 234,000 people have entered our city seeking shelter, costing taxpayers over $7.5 billion in just three years,” Adams said.

In the court filing, Adams claimed the move had “no lawful grounds,” demanding that it be reversed and the administration be prevented from conducting further “unlawful money grabs in the future.”

Adams stated that he will take further legal action against the administration’s latest attempt to recoup another $106 million. According to the New York Times, the funds have already been spent.

Early this month, a judge dropped the federal corruption case against Adams, allowing him to turn his attention to his re-election campaign, where he faces several challengers.

On April 1, FEMA informed the city that it would terminate immigration-related grants totaling $188 million.

Cameron Hamilton, FEMA acting administrator, stated that the funding is “not consistent” with Trump’s mission to clamp down on illegal immigration and secure the border.

“The Department, consistent with President Trump’s direction, is focused on advancing the essential mission of enforcing immigration laws and securing the border,” Hamilton stated.

“Consequently, grant programs that support, or have the potential to support, illegal immigration through funding illegal activities or support illegal aliens that is not consistent with DHS’s enforcement focus do not effectuate the agency’s current practices,” he said.

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NYC Mayor Adams ditches Dem primary, then takes aim at the 'deep state'



New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, announced on Thursday that he will not seek the party's nomination but will run his re-election campaign as an independent candidate.

Adams, who rarely posts on his personal X account, shared a video announcing his decision. The announcement stood in sharp contrast to his two most recent prior posts from the summer of 2024, when he had voiced support for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

'I have never seen anyone do such a good job of defining that deep state.'

Just a few months later, Adams was effectively on the outs with Democrats, facing a federal corruption lawsuit shortly after he criticized the Biden administration for fueling the nation's illegal immigration crisis.

Adams wrote on Thursday, "I have always put New York's people before politics and party—and I always will. I am running for mayor in the general election because our city needs independent leadership that understands working people."

In his six-minute video, Adams discussed the grit of New Yorkers, the "bogus case" against him, and the other mayoral candidates.

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While he stood by his decision to call out the Biden administration for its immigration failures, he stopped short of severing ties with the Democratic Party.

"Some leaders choose rhetoric over results and fail to make working people their North Star. But the values of the working-class base — pro-public safety, pro-worker, pro-quality of life — are still there standing strong even if many who share them have left the party," he stated. "I had hoped to fight for them again in a Democratic primary for mayor."

"But the dismissal of the bogus case against me dragged on too long, making it impossible to mount a primary campaign while these false accusations were held over me," Adams continued. "Though I am still a Democrat, I am announcing that I will forego the Democratic primary for mayor and appeal directly to all New Yorkers as an independent candidate in the general election."

Adams acknowledged that the accusations against him in the corruption case "may have shaken" New Yorkers' confidence in him. He maintained his innocence, but expressed regret for "trust[ing] people I should not have."

He slammed his opponents without naming any mayoral candidates specifically.

"Some were advocating against more police, even if they are for them now," Adams said. "Some were fighting the pro-growth strategies of our administration. Some even sought to limit housing production. Some voted to give more of your tax dollars to other cities and towns in this state while refusing to change laws that let dangerous criminals run wild on our streets. And some sat at home and did absolutely nothing."

The mayor boasted his administration's record on housing, crime reduction, job creation, and benefit disbursements for low-income New Yorkers.

Adams admitted that he made mistakes.

"But it was not a mistake to invest more in housing than any other mayor. It wasn't a mistake to put a cop on every train. It wasn't a mistake to increase the value of housing vouchers and earn income tax credit to the highest levels ever," he stated.

"And it wasn't a mistake to put politics aside, defy my party when needed, and speak for the voice of working New Yorkers," Adams declared.

'Trump derangement syndrome is real.'

On Wednesday, the same day the indictment against Adams was dropped, comedian Andrew Schulz released a new episode of his podcast, "Flagrant," featuring an interview with the mayor. The two spoke about New York City's immigration crisis, Adams' decision to criticize the Biden administration, and the accusations against him.

Adams encouraged Schulz to read FBI Director Kash Patel's book, "Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy."

Schulz asked, "Is this what people refer to — and I think this word has been used too much, but the 'deep state,' or whatever it is?"

"It's not used too much," Adams responded. "It's real, brother."

"I have never seen anyone do such a good job of defining that deep state," he continued, referring to Patel. "You should have him on your show."

When asked whether legal immigrants should be afraid under the Trump administration, Adams responded by torching those on the left who have spread false rumors that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has targeted individuals with legal status.

"When I'm moving around my immigrant communities, and they share with me, 'We're afraid. We're afraid to go to school, work, church, etc.' Why are they afraid?" Adams asked. "The activists who love this hysteria are giving the impression that all the sudden ICE is going into our schools and taking our children, going into hospitals — that's just not true."

He declared that "Trump derangement syndrome is real" and expressed disappointment that the Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to root out waste and fraud had become politicized by the president's critics.

Adams also blasted the Biden administration for placing parents on the FBI watchlist for being concerned about what their children were being taught in public schools.

"I'm telling you, read Kash's book," he told Schulz.

One source close to Adams told the New York Post, "Now that this case is gone and he's running in the general, you're going to see a very 'f*** you' mentality from him."

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Eric Adams Quits Dem Primary, Will Seek Reelection as 'Uninhibited' Independent

New York City mayor Eric Adams will leave the Democratic primary and run for reelection as an independent, as internal tensions and a broader identity crisis roil the Democratic Party.

The post Eric Adams Quits Dem Primary, Will Seek Reelection as 'Uninhibited' Independent appeared first on .

Judge permanently drops corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams



U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho on Wednesday dropped the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D).

In September, under former President Joe Biden, the Southern District of New York charged Adams with a five-count indictment, accusing him of bribery and fraud. It claimed that Adams received $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and other luxury travel perks from a Turkish official.

Adams pleaded not guilty.

'The case against Eric Adams should have never been brought in the first place — and finally today that case is gone forever.'

Democrats appeared to turn on Adams after he called out the Biden administration for fueling the nation’s immigration crisis, which put excessive strain on the sanctuary city’s resources. The corruption charges were filed soon after Adams criticized the administration. Some of Adams’ closest staffers also became the target of similar investigations.

In February, President Donald Trump’s Justice Department moved to dismiss the case against Adams, which sparked rumors from the mayor’s critics that the mayor and Trump had engaged in a quid pro quo. The Trump administration and Adams have both denied the claims, insisting instead that the mayor, like the president, was a victim of the left’s lawfare.

Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who previously represented Trump in his New York criminal case, argued that the indictments against Adams should be dismissed “based on well-founded concerns regarding weaponization, election interference, and the impediments that the case has imposed on Mayor Adams’ ability to govern and cooperate with federal law enforcement to keep New York City safe.”

In his 78-page decision to dismiss the case with prejudice, Ho wrote, “To be clear, the Court again emphasizes that it does not express any opinion as to the merits of the case or whether the prosecution of Mayor Adams ‘should’ move forward.”

“The Court notes only that it has no authority to require that it continue,” he stated. “Ultimately, because the decision to discontinue a prosecution belongs primarily to a political branch of government, it is the public’s judgment, and not this Court’s, that truly matters.”

Alex Spiro, Adams’ attorney, told Fox News, “The case against Eric Adams should have never been brought in the first place — and finally today that case is gone forever.”

“From Day 1, the mayor has maintained his innocence and now justice for Eric Adams and New Yorkers has prevailed,” he added.

Adams is now free to turn his attention to his re-election campaign, where he faces several Democratic challengers, including disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

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Judge Permanently Dismisses Eric Adams's Corruption Case

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed the corruption case against New York City mayor Eric Adams (D.) and barred the Department of Justice from refiling the charges against him.

The post Judge Permanently Dismisses Eric Adams's Corruption Case appeared first on .

New York’s Highest Court Shoots Down Democrats’ Efforts To Let Noncitizens Vote

New York’s highest court struck down New York City’s noncitizen voting law as unconstitutional on Thursday. The New York State Court of Appeals ruled 6-1 that the 2021 law violates the state Constitution, finding that “Article II, section 1 of New York’s Constitution limits voting to citizens” and calling that “conclusion … hardly new.” “Whatever […]