Despite assurances from Mayor Eric Adams that Rikers Island would eventually open the door to immigration and customs enforcement (ICE), the prison instead continued to stunt agents’ deportation efforts.

Adams in February after dealing with the immigration crisis that has repeatedly vowed to avoid city councils by sacrificing billions of local taxpayers and strongly support the Sanctuary city’s policies. It has been declared He issues an executive order allowing immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) agents to Rikers Island, New York City’s largest prison facility. However, weeks after the pledge was made, the order has not been signed and the administration’s call for famous criminal immigrants to be handed over has been ignored. (Related: Smuggler behind a failed operation that killed all immigrant families pleads guilty)

“Whoever you are, if you are hurting innocent people in this city or in this country, you have no right to be in our country,” Adams said in a February television interview with Emperor Tom Homan of the border. That day he announced his intention to allow ice agents to Rikers Island.

“Let’s be clear, I’m not in the way. [of ICE’s mission to apprehend criminal migrants]. I’m working with you,” Adams said.

However, Adams has not signed the order yet. A mayor’s spokesman has confirmed with the Daily Carener News Foundation that the order is still underway.

The issue came to mind following the arrest of Sebastian Zapetta Khalil, an illegal Guatemalan immigrant who was arrested in December for the horrifying murder of homeless New Jersey woman Debrina Kawam. Kawam was sleeping on a subway train on a December morning when Zapetta was said to have lit up her clothes in a fire and incited the flames until she was completely wrapped in fire.

Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem said he had recently visited the Coney Island Metro Station where Kawam was killed, but the NYC Department of Corrections does not respect the immigrant detainees in Zapetta, who are currently being held at Riker.

An ICE spokesperson called on the DCNF to confirm that the agency has filed a detainee for Zapeta, provide NYC officials with a date and time for release, and maintain custody for up to 48 hours, allowing enough time for deportation officers to arrive at the scene. However, the NYC Department of Corrections confirmed with the agency that even if Zapeta was released from their custody, they would not respect the detainees.

The NYC Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment from the DCNF about detainees filed with Zapeta.

Homan, who spearheads the Trump administration’s deportation campaign, said he would do anything he needed to assume Zapetta’s custody, even if it means his agents are standing outside the prison every day.

“He’s not going to run away,” Homan said. Interviews with Fox and friends Thursday. “New York City, or any other sanctuary city, will not prevent President Trump from maintaining President Donald Trump’s promise to eradicate all criminally illegal aliens, all public threats, all national security threats, and all national security threats from this country.”

In response to a request for comment regarding the apparent lack of action in Rikers Island’s executive order, an ICE spokesperson referred the DCNF to the mayor’s office. Homan did not respond to requests for comment.

NEW YORK, NY – February 14: New York Mayors Eric Adams and Tom Homan will visit Fox and Friends at Fox News Channel Studios on February 14, 2025 in New York City. (Photo: John Lamparski/Getty Images)

“Obviously, I want Mayor Adams to follow his commitment to Riker,” councillor Vicki Palladino told DCNF.

As a city council Republican, Palladino has long pushed NYC to crack down on illegal immigration crimes and help ICE carry out its mission. However, she also admitted a sudden obstacle in Adams’ way.

“[Adams’] Promises to sign an executive order are under a legal threat from New York State, including the governor. [New York State Attorney General Letitia James]they’re fighting aggressively on behalf of these criminals,” Palladino said. “Frankly, it’s outrageous that everyone tries to get in the way of these very basic and minimal concessions to common sense and voter will, but that’s one of us.”

“The fact in question is that the mayor is alone and the progressive controls many levers of power here. They effectively rendered the city independable,” she continued. “Without serious efforts to clean the house, including a massive federal investigation, there may not be much that locals can do for us, even if they want.”

New York City, the largest sanctuary city in the United States, was the focus of the national immigration crisis that began under the Biden administration. Adams previously confirmed that more than 230,000 immigrants have flocked to the Big Apple since spring 2022, costing the city around $7 billion.

Numerous crimes from illegal immigrants living in New York have attracted the public’s attention, as it is said that illegal immigrants were fired by two NYPD officers during the foot pursuit when the group allegedly shopped and beat New York Police Station (NYPD) officers. Suspicion of rape There is a 13-year-old girl from Knife Point by illegal immigrants and another rape by illegal immigrants at Knife Point.

Excessive costs and famous crime have pushed Adams more and more right on the issue, at least in rhetoric. The Democratic mayor has met with ice officials on how to navigate the city’s sanctuary law since at least May 2024, and is hoping to “cancel me” publicly and discuss immigration with Homan.

However, all attempts at tangible progress seemed to be flat. The proposal to roll back the city’s sanctuary status by a group of moderate NYC Council members soon died at liberal city hall, and efforts to make decisions in the hands of NYC voters via election votes have been rejected by the Charter Amendment Committee.

“For many years, members of the Common Sense Council have called for the repeal of Sanctuary City laws. Laws that prevent NYC prisons from respecting ice detainees and allow dangerous offenders to walk freely.” Posted On social media. As co-chair of the moderate, common sense caucus at City Hall, Holden has become a voice critic of Adams’ inaction on immigration enforcement reform.

“We have introduced a law that would deny discussion. The mayor had the opportunity to vote last year and failed. He swore an executive order, but he did nothing,” Holden continued. “This is crazy.”

When asked whether immigration policies had changed since Adams teased the executive order, the mayor’s Immigration Office introduced the DCNF to an Adams spokesman. However, Manuel Castro, Director of Immigration Affairs, Confirmed Thursday said that the sanctuary laws and policies had not been amended to city council members.

However, one immigration-related policy has appeared to be changing recently. Illegal immigrants now have after a vote by city councillors Less requirements To obtain a local government residency ID card.

“Now, my only advice to Mayor Adams is to stand up for myself. Sign the order and let the progressive work and override it,” Palladino said.

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