Council Member Tiffany Cabán Responds to Eric Adams Bending the Knee to Trump’s Family Separation and Deportation Czar Tom Homan

February 13, 2025

New York City

In response to Mayor Eric Adams bending the knee to Trump’s Family Separation and Deportation Czar Tom Homan and offering to bring ICE to Rikers Island, New York City Council Member Tiffany Cabán released the following statement:

“Former U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon made it clear in her resignation letter: Eric Adams is compromised. He has sacrificed the immigrant community of New York in return for his own freedom from prosecution.  

So let me be clear: bringing ICE to Rikers Island will not make New Yorkers safer.

To allow ICE into Rikers would be an affront to due process and would violate New York’s well-established sanctuary city protections.

The majority of the individuals who are incarcerated on Rikers Island have not been convicted of any crime and are only there while their case is pending because they cannot afford to pay bail. 

The Trump administration has already separated countless families, deported refugees fleeing violence and persecution, including young children, and falsely accused immigrants of being “gang members” while providing no proof. The excuse of “focusing on these violent gangs and criminal activity” that Adams is parroting will continue to be used to indiscriminately deport and target immigrant communities at large. 

ICE has no place on Rikers Island. As the Council Member who represents constituents being detained on Rikers Island, I will continue to fight for safety and justice for everyone. We will not allow anyone to be left behind.

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