Adams Administration Will Give ICE Space to Operate on Rikers Island

The federal immigration authorities will be allowed to open office space at the Rikers Island jail complex for criminal investigations, according to an executive order issued on Tuesday by Mayor Eric Adams’s administration.The order, issued by First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, came nearly two months after Mr.Adams announced that he would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into the jail to assist in criminal investigations.Mr.

Mastro, who was appointed several weeks ago, was authorized by Mr.Adams to determine “whether and under what circumstances” to allow federal agents into the jail complex, according to the order.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other federal agencies will be permitted the same privileges as ICE.The federal agencies will coordinate with the Correction Department’s Criminal Intelligence Bureau on “violent criminals and gangs, crimes committed at or facilitated by persons in DOC custody, and drug trafficking,” the order says.“This directive is driven by one priority and one priority alone: to keep all New Yorkers safe,” Mr.Mastro said in a statement.

“I came to this decision after making an independent assessment of the facts and law.”The executive order, which was first reported by CBS News, was met with swift rebuke by Adrienne Adams, the New York City Council speaker.Ms.

Adams, who is running for mayor, called the move “deeply concerning.” City law has “clear guidelines that prohibit the use of office space on Rikers for the enforcement of civil immigration enforcement,” said Ms.Adams, who is not related to the mayor.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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