Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor’s Workplace of Immigrant Affairs, stated on Thursday his workplace has been saved at nighttime on the mayor’s promised government order permitting ICE to function on Rikers Island.
The commissioner, below questioning throughout a Metropolis Council finances listening to, stated that he has not seen a draft order and doesn’t know its standing.
“MOIA has not been part of any of these conversations to change these laws,” the commissioner stated, emphasizing that no elements of town’s sanctuary legal guidelines have but been modified and that he didn’t wish to opine on the legal guidelines “so as not to confuse our community.”
Mayor Adams final month introduced he was engaged on an motion that might permit federal immigration authorities into the jail advanced to focus on “violent criminals and gangs,” though within the weeks since he has not offered a timeline or standing replace, merely saying his attorneys have been dealing with it.
Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler stated it was “disrespectful” that Castro and his workforce confirmed up unable to supply additional details about the order, which he stated could be “deeply disruptive and harmful.”
Molly Shaeffer, the administration’s asylum-seeker affairs director, additionally stated she has not been consulted on the Rikers government order.
Alexa Aviles, the chairperson of the Metropolis Council’s immigration committee, later known as the dearth of particulars Castro might present “utterly disappointing.”
Castro stated after the listening to that “sometimes we weigh in, sometimes we don’t” on new laws.
Metropolis elected officers and advocates have slammed the plan to permit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement again on Rikers Island, saying it raises vital due course of points and should run in opposition to town’s sanctuary insurance policies.
Rikers Island
Barry Williams for New York Each day Information
Manuel Castro, commissioner of the Mayor’s Workplace of Immigrant Affairs, stated on Thursday his workplace has been saved at nighttime on the mayor’s promised government order to permit ICE to function on Rikers Island. (Barry Williams for New York Each day Information)
The announcement of the pending government order adopted Adams’ assembly with President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, on Feb. 13.
The mayor has been accused of coming into right into a corrupt settlement with the Trump administration to get his federal corruption indictment dismissed in trade for serving to the president’s immigration agenda.
“If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York City, and we won’t be sitting on the couch. I’ll be in his office, up his butt, saying, ‘Where the hell is the agreement we came to?’” Homan stated throughout a joint look with the mayor on “Fox & Friends” a day later.
Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for the mayor, stated that she didn’t have any replace of the timing of the potential order, and that town’s Legislation Division is “evaluating all options.”
“Not sure why MOIA would be looped on an EO about public safety,” she responded in a textual content.
With Graham Rayman
Initially Printed: March 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM EST
