Mamdani Suggests NYPD May Arrest ICE Agents Instead of Illegal Aliens [WATCH]

New York City Mayor-Elect Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani responded to questions on Wednesday about whether the NYPD could arrest Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents under his leadership.

His comments came during an interview with MS NOW Senior Political and National Reporter Jacob Soboroff, who asked about potential conflicts between federal immigration enforcement and the city’s sanctuary policies.

Soboroff began by referencing Mamdani’s earlier remarks on accountability and the authority of public officials.

“I’ve also heard you say that no one is above the law and anyone can be held accountable, and that goes for the president of the United States and it also goes for ICE agents,” Soboroff said.

He then asked, “I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but is there a scenario in which the NYPD under you could arrest ICE agents on the streets of New York for their behavior towards immigrants?”

Mamdani replied by reiterating his position on the NYPD’s role in immigration enforcement.

“My focus is for the NYPD to not be assisting ICE in their immigration enforcement and to actually be following the policies of sanctuary city law. And I do believe, however, that, for the law to have meaning, there has to be accountability for all of us,” he said.

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He added that accountability is an issue that must be addressed openly “no matter who we’re referring to,” stating that public trust has eroded because people “are seeing inconsistency take place in every different facet of our society.”

Soboroff followed up by seeking clarification on whether an ICE agent could face arrest by the NYPD if they were found to have violated someone’s rights in the city.

“So, in other words, there is a circumstance in which, if an ICE agent violates someone’s rights here in New York City, they could be arrested by the police department?” he asked.

Mamdani responded, “I think if an ICE agent is breaking the law, then that is a law that they should be held accountable to.”

The exchange marks one of Mamdani’s most direct statements to date on how his administration might approach interactions between the NYPD and federal immigration officers.

New York City’s sanctuary policies limit cooperation with ICE in most circumstances, and questions about enforcement have become a recurring topic as Mamdani prepares to take office.

Mamdani restated throughout the interview that his central priority is ensuring that the NYPD adheres to city sanctuary rules instead of assisting in federal immigration actions.

His comments also emphasized the broader theme of equal application of law, which he linked to concerns about public confidence in government institutions.

Soboroff’s line of questioning focused on whether Mamdani’s public statements on accountability would extend to federal personnel operating within New York City.

Mamdani did not outline specific scenarios but maintained that anyone breaking the law should face the consequences under that law.

The interview adds to ongoing discussions about how New York City will navigate its policy differences with federal immigration authorities once Mamdani takes office, particularly regarding questions of jurisdiction, enforcement, and potential conflicts between municipal and federal operations.