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A Manhattan judge temporarily blocked City Hall from taking any steps to reopen an ICE office on the troubled jail complex — dealing a blow to Adams’ efforts to assist with President Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Judge Mary Rosado issued the temporary restraining order barring Adams officials from even discussing the deal with the feds, scoring a win for the City Council, which sued to block ICE and other federal law enforcement agents from setting up shop at the lockup.


  A federal judge has temporarily blocked Mayor Adams’ plan to reopen the ICE office on Rikers Island. William Farrington A federal judge has temporarily blocked Mayor Adams’ plan to reopen the ICE office on Rikers Island. William Farrington

“City Hall and all other New York City government officials, officers, personnel, and agencies are prohibited from taking any steps toward negotiating, signing, or implementing any Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government regarding federal law enforcement presence on Department of Correction property,” Rosado wrote.

The order is in place until at least Friday morning, when both sides will argue the case in court, and at which point the directive might be “extended, modified or vacated,” the judge said.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement previously had an office on Rikers, but it was removed with the passing of sanctuary city laws in 2014 under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Adams, de Blasio’s successor, came out in support of bringing the feds back to Rikers after meeting several times with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan — who, during a joint interview on Fox & Friends, threatened to be “up his butt” if he didn’t help with immigration.

The Adams administration eventually issued an executive order earlier this month allowing ICE and other federal agencies to come back to the jail to conduct criminal investigations. 


  Rikers Island, seen here in an aerial view, in 2014. AP Rikers Island, seen here in an aerial view, in 2014. AP

But members of the City Council were outraged, with Speaker Adrienne Adams railing that allowing ICE agents to return would open the floodgates for mass deportations at the lockup.

The council’s suit, which was filed last week, argued the order was part of a “corrupt bargain” allegedly made by Adams in exchange for the Trump administration pushing to kill his federal criminal case.

The suit also argues that First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro — who signed the executive order in a rare move after Adams recused himself — does not have the power to issue such decrees.


  A protest against ICE outside City Hall on April 10, 2025. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images A protest against ICE outside City Hall on April 10, 2025. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Mastro has pushed back on the political firestorm ignited by the order, insisting that the feds will only work on criminal cases, like about gang activity, and not conduct any civil immigration enforcement at the jail.

But the newly installed first deputy has refused to say what the recourse would be if agents grabbed an inmate on a civil detainer.

Julia Agos, a spokesperson for the council speaker, said she appreciated the judge’s decision “to prevent any negotiation or execution on an agreement between the administration and federal agencies until this Friday’s hearing to ensure communities are protected.”


  Public Advocate Jumaane Williams speaking at a press conference against the Rikers Island plan on April 10, 2025. Getty Images Public Advocate Jumaane Williams speaking at a press conference against the Rikers Island plan on April 10, 2025. Getty Images

“We look forward to the hearing and will continue outlining why this executive order is unlawful and bad for public safety in our city,” she said.

City Hall — which accused the council of “fanning the flames of fear with intentionally deceptive statements” after the lawsuit was filed — had a more tepid response to the temporary restraining order. 

“We are grateful that the court agreed with us to delay the hearing until April 25,” Adams press secretary Kayla Mamelak said in a statement, referring to the court date that both sides had agreed to, according to filings. 

The spokesperson also noted that city attorneys had “committed to the court” last week that they would not sign a deal with the feds as the parties haggled over a hearing time. 

She acknowledged that as per the judge’s order, the city also cannot negotiate an agreement with the feds pending the hearing.

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