Judge Temporarily Blocks ICE From Reopening Offices On Rikers Island

NEW YORK CITY — A New York judge has temporarily blocked ICE agents from reopening offices on Rikers Island.

On Monday, Judge Mary Rosado barred the city from “taking any steps toward negotiating, signing, or implementing any Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government” before a hearing on Friday regarding a lawsuit challenging the executive order.

Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for the mayor, said in a statement that the administration is grateful that the judge agreed to delay the hearing until April 25.

"“As we committed to the court last week, we are not expecting an MOU prior to the hearing,” Mamelak added.

The lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court argues First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro "made no meaningful independent analysis of the situation" and that Adams directed him to sign the executive order as part of an alleged deal with the Trump administration, according to a New York Post report.

According to the executive order, federal agencies will support local law enforcement in its efforts against international gangs and criminal enterprises such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua that have been designated by as foreign terrorist organizations, Patch previously reported.

“Mayor Eric Adams, as part of a corrupt quid pro quo bargain to end the federal criminal case against him, promised to let United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) return to Rikers Island and set up an office,” the suit reads. “The Trump Administration has repeatedly confirmed that they will use that office and ICE’s presence on Rikers to supercharge their mass deportation efforts.”

The suit also argues that the executive order is "null and void" because Adams never formally gave Mastro the power to issue such an order. In addition, the order violates city conflict of interest laws.

Last week, the New York City Law Department announced they would not defend Mayor Eric Adams in the lawsuit, Patch previously reported.

“The New York City Law Department has advised that they will not be representing any party in this litigation. Respondents are accordingly in the process of identifying outside counsel to represent them in this matter," Allison Stoddart, the mayor’s chief counsel, wrote in the letter to the Manhattan Supreme Court.

In addition, the law department would not get involved in the matter because it had previously advised both sides on the scope of the city’s sanctuary city laws.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.