New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts during his inauguration ceremony in New York City, U.S., January 1, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has quietly rolled back a key policy that allowed federal authorities to monitor violent foreign gangs operating inside Rikers Island, raising alarms among law enforcement officials.
On his first day in office, Mamdani rescinded an executive order that had permitted federal agencies- including the Department of Homeland Security, to coordinate intelligence efforts inside the jail. The order had been used to track members of Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang with growing influence in U.S. cities. The repeal was part of a broader move undoing late-term directives issued by former Mayor Eric Adams.
Federal sources say the decision could make it easier for gang members to organize and communicate from behind bars. Authorities have long warned that Tren de Aragua relies on compromised guards, visitors, and released inmates to relay messages beyond jail walls, a system that becomes harder to disrupt without federal oversight.
Concerns are heightened by the gang’s proximity to other high-profile federal detainees in New York, creating what officials describe as a rare opportunity for coordination and influence. Critics argue the rollback removes a crucial layer of supervision at a time when enforcement should be increasing, not retreating.
The mayor’s office has not publicly explained the move, but critics say the decision reflects a broader pattern of prioritizing ideology over public safety. As gang violence and organized crime remain pressing concerns, the quiet removal of federal monitoring has left many questioning whose interests are being protected inside the city’s most dangerous jail.
