(The Center Square) — New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani told New Yorkers how to thwart ICE raids and pledged that his incoming administration will “safeguard” immigrant communities while protecting the city’s constitutional right to protest.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist who will be sworn into office on Jan. 1, released a video on Sunday outlining New Yorkers’ rights during encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and offering guidance to immigrants and their families who are approached by federal agents. The video included Spanish subtitles.
“First, ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” Mamdani, himself a first-generation immigrant, said in the video. “If ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry’ and the right to keep your door closed.’”
He claimed that ICE is “legally allowed to lie” to individuals they are seeking to detain and may also present “false” documentation to suspects. He said people are also “legally allowed” to film ICE agents during a raid, provided that they don’t interfere with an arrest.
“It is important to remain calm during any interaction with ICE or law enforcement,” he said. “Do not impede their investigation, resist arrest or run.”
Mamdani, 34, won a three-way mayoral race in November and has been highly critical of the Trump administration’s deportation plans and ICE, which he has called a “rogue” federal agency. In the video, he said as New York’s next mayor he will protect the city’s 3 million immigrants from the Trump administration’s crackdowns, and “safeguard” New Yorkers’ constitutional right to demonstrate against ICE operations.
“New York will always welcome immigrants,” he said. “And I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
His remarks come after protestors gathered near New York’s Chinatown as ICE attempted to detain people in the neighborhood. Similar demonstrations were held in the same neighborhood in October after ICE reportedly targeted street vendors selling knock-off designer handbags, electronics and other goods.
But it also follows a cordial White House meeting with Republican President Donald Trump, whose administration is carrying out federal immigration enforcement operations in New York City and other major U.S. cities.
Trump’s border czar Tom Homan has pledged to target New York City over its sanctuary policies that restrict local cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns.
New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was among those who criticized Mamdani’s video, accusing the mayor-elect of instructing New Yorkers on how “to evade federal law enforcement” agents.
“This will further cause an explosion of violence toward federal, state, and city law enforcement,” Stefanik posted on social media Monday. “Outrageous.”
