(NewsNation) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement will soon be allowed to operate in Rikers Island, New York City’s largest jail, Mayor Eric Adams announced after a meeting with President Donald Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan.
In a statement, he called the meeting with Homan productive, adding that he doesn’t want to go to war with the Trump administration.
Part of the plan discussed with Homan includes reopening ICE’s office on Rikers Island. Also discussed were ways to embed more New York Police detectives into federal task forces focused on violent gangs and criminal activity.
The alliance comes a day after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a lawsuit against the state of New York, accusing officials of impeding ICE’s work — and two days after the Department of Justice issued a memo directing bribery charges be dropped against Adams. Charges against Adams are to be dropped without prejudice, which means they can be refiled.
Critics point to the DOJ’s move as a possible motive for Adams’ willingness to work with Trump administration officials.
When asked directly, Adams said the Biden administration, which implemented sanctuary city laws that limit how much local law enforcement can work with ICE, went too far.
“I thought the intention was there, but the application was wrong,” Adams said. “I asked the city council, ‘Can we modify when it comes down to dangerous individuals?’ They refused to do so, so we need to operate in the parameters that we have.”