Rikers Island Sees Another Inmate Die in Custody Amid Calls for Federal Takeover – and Return of ICE
34th Death on Rikers Island since 2014
A sign marks the location of the Rikers Island Correctional Center on March 9, 2021.
Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Another individual incarcerated on Rikers Island has died, the Correction Department (DOC) announced early Wednesday morning.
The unidentified inmate was found at an unspecified facility on the island during the early hours of Feb. 19, according to a terse statement from the DOC.
The agency indicated the person was pronounced dead at the scene; no preliminary details about the cause of death were provided. The individual’s identity has been withheld pending family notification. amNewYork Metro reached out to the DOC for further information about the fatality and is awaiting a response.
Investigation Underway
Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie said in a statement that her department is “conducting a full investigation into this tragic event.”
Additionally, the DOC said it has notified the federal monitor overseeing Rikers Island, the Board of Correction, the state Attorney General’s Office, the state Commission of Correction, and the city Department of Investigation about the fatality – which is now part of the standard procedure for in-custody deaths.
Mounting Concerns and Calls for Action
Wednesday’s inmate death marked the 34th of its kind during the Adams administration, according to the Katal Center for Equity, Health and Justice. More than 100 people have died while in custody on Rikers since 2014, which was the start of the de Blasio Administration’s first of two terms.
A city law passed in 2019 mandates the closure of Rikers Island by 2027, though it is unclear whether that mandate will be reached. The city has yet to complete the four community-based jails across the city that would replace Rikers, with those plans receiving boisterous community opposition.
Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain previously held the city in contempt for ongoing violence and dilapidated conditions on Rikers Island, and for violating the consent decree in the 2025 Nunez vs. City of New York case for improving conditions. She is now considering putting Rikers into federal receivership, which would allow the Justice Department to directly oversee the facility’s operations.
Federal Agents Return to Rikers Island
However, before that decision is reached, federal agents are returning to the island in a different capacity. Last week, Mayor Eric Adams announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would reopen its facility on Rikers Island, which the city had shuttered a decade ago. The office, according to Adams, will enable ICE to root out undocumented “criminals” and members of “violent gangs” currently incarcerated on Rikers.
Calls for Action and Accountability
In light of Wednesday’s inmate death and other developments surrounding the mayor over the past week, criminal justice advocates with the Katal Center condemned Adams over Wednesday’s death. They called for his resignation or removal from office.
“The shameless moves by Mayor Adams over the last week illuminate what we’ve known for years– he does not give a crap about Black, brown, immigrant, and low-income New Yorkers,” said Melanie Dominguez, organizing director for the Katal Center. “Instead of working to save lives and close Rikers, Adams has abandoned the plan to shut Rikers and wants to let ICE target and further criminalize immigrants. Gov. [Kathy] Hochul must remove Adams from office now.
Conclusion
The recent developments surrounding Rikers Island are a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform and accountability. The city must prioritize the safety and well-being of its inmates, and work towards closing Rikers Island once and for all.
FAQs
* What is the current situation on Rikers Island?
Rikers Island is a correctional facility in New York City that has been plagued by violence, dilapidated conditions, and high rates of in-custody deaths.
* What is the plan to close Rikers Island?
A city law passed in 2019 mandates the closure of Rikers Island by 2027, but the city has yet to complete the four community-based jails across the city that would replace Rikers.
* What is the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Rikers Island?
ICE is reopening its facility on Rikers Island to target undocumented “criminals” and members of “violent gangs” currently incarcerated on Rikers.
* What are the calls for action?
Criminal justice advocates are calling for the removal of Mayor Eric Adams and for the city to prioritize the safety and well-being of its inmates. They are also advocating for the closure of Rikers Island and the implementation of community-based jails.
