Some sanctuary cities collaborate with ICE, others push back

• Some sanctuary cities are scaling back law enforcement’s presence while others, like New York City, are increasing cooperation with ICE. Democratic Mayor Eric Adams has decided to allow ICE access to Rikers Island for gang and drug investigations.
• While Adams justifies the move as necessary for safety, critics, including the New York Civil Liberties Union, argue it undermines sanctuary city protections, particularly in the context of federal deportation policies.
• Colorado lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 276, which limits ICE’s access to records from public schools and institutions unless a court order is presented.

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The Trump administration has made immigration policy a priority since taking office, and it’s a position that has led to confrontations with leaders of some sanctuary cities. Some are now scaling back the presence of law enforcement, while others are ramping up cooperation with ICE.

Sanctuary cities typically limit their cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to protect those who entered the country illegally from deportation or prosecution, despite federal law.

However, during the week of April 6, Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration issued an executive order to immediately give federal immigration officials access to Rikers Island so they can handle gang and drug-related criminal investigations.

What does Adams’ order mean?

It’s a move that reinstates ICE at the prison after a 10-year ban. 

Adams had several meetings with Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, about addressing the immigration issue in his city. He committed to protecting hardworking immigrants while focusing on safety concerns related to repeat offenders.

The mayor did not sign the recent Rikers Island order himself. Instead, his newly appointed First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro signed it.

“The safety of the city of New York has been jeopardized by violent transnational gangs and criminal enterprises — including transnational gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua — that have been designated by federal authorities as foreign terrorist organizations,” Mastro wrote in the directive.

Mastro told CBS News that the executive order is carefully written to comply with New York’s sanctuary city laws, which allow the city to cooperate with investigations into certain crimes, including murder and rape.

City officials are prevented from cooperating in deportations since they are classified as civil matters.

New York Civil Liberties Union Senior Policy Counsel Zach Ahmad released a statement in response to the order, saying in part, “By giving ICE the keys to Rikers Island, the Adams administration is once again selling out New Yorkers for Trump’s dangerous deportation regime.”

How is Colorado enhancing its sanctuary city policies?

Colorado lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would reduce cooperation with ICE by limiting the release of records to immigration officials, including from public schools, colleges and child care centers.

Senate Bill 276, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Mike Weissman and two other Democratic state representatives, would also guarantee ICE could only access public schools and colleges with a court-issued order, subpoena or warrant.

The Denver area has become a focal point of immigration debates due to its significant immigrant population and incidents, including alleged members of Tren de Aragua entering an apartment unit in 2024.

The complex closed earlier in 2025 after months of controversy.

According to a report from Chalkbeat Colorado, immigrant rights groups, including the ACLU of Colorado and several education advocacy organizations, testified in favor of the bill at a hearing during the week of April 6. In contrast, three groups, including the town of Castle Rock, Safe Colorado and the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, opposed the bill.

The bill is headed to the state’s Senate Appropriations Committee before going to the Senate floor.