Amid rising tension in New York City following a federal immigration sweep, mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani stepped forward with a message aimed at the city’s undocumented communities: You do not have to cooperate with ICE.
According to The Associated Press, in a video posted Sunday, Mamdani — who will take office Jan. 1 — said he wants to ensure that the roughly 3 million immigrants living in the city understand their rights during encounters with federal agents.
“We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights,” he said.
Mamdani explained that individuals in the U.S. may decline to answer questions from immigration officers, refuse entry to private spaces, and record agents as long as they do not interfere with operations.
“ICE agents cannot enter spaces like a home, school or private area of a workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” he said.
He also cautioned that agents may misrepresent their authority, adding: “ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent.”
For people detained during an encounter, Mamdani said a simple question can clarify the situation. “If you’re being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you.”
The video comes just days after federal agents carried out a high-profile raid in Manhattan, sparking demonstrations and renewed debate over immigration enforcement in the city. Protesters gathered near Canal Street in Chinatown as ICE attempted to detain individuals, continuing a pattern seen during similar sweeps last October.
“New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters,” Mamdani said.
His statements highlight the political divide over immigration enforcement at a moment when federal operations have expanded beyond traditional hotspots.
President Donald Trump’s administration has recently conducted sweeps in multiple U.S. cities, including New Orleans.
Mamdani himself met with Trump in the Oval Office weeks earlier, in a meeting described as unusually cordial given their sharply different approaches to immigration.
As the city braces for further enforcement actions, Mamdani’s message signals a clear stance: New York’s leadership intends to push back.
