NYC’s New Mayor Mamdani Vows to Block ICE, Defy Federal Immigration Enforcement [WATCH]

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that New York City will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement operations once he takes office, signaling a sharp policy shift from outgoing Mayor Eric Adams.

Speaking at the annual Somos conference in Puerto Rico, Mamdani said his administration will resist any federal attempts to assist with deportation efforts ordered by President Donald Trump.

The incoming mayor vowed that city law enforcement would not take part in federal operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“My NYPD will continue to not be of assistance to ICE whenever they are trying to terrorize New Yorkers across the five boroughs,” Mamdani told NY1.

He added, “I think that it’s important to continue a separation between NYPD and ICE, and I think it’s important to bring an end to a chapter which Eric Adams said on national TV, where he opened the door to civil immigration enforcement.”

🚨 ZOHRAN MAMDANI: “My NYPD will continue to not be of assistance to ICE whenever they are trying to terrorize New Yorkers … and I think it’s important to bring an end to … civil immigration enforcement.” pic.twitter.com/EsPpxKBEpP

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) November 8, 2025

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The announcement drew attention both in New York and Washington, as the federal government continues to prepare for expanded immigration enforcement measures under President Trump’s renewed border directives.

Under Mayor Adams, New York City had allowed limited cooperation between local police and federal agents in specific cases involving criminal warrants and detainers.

Adams argued that such coordination improved public safety and ensured compliance with federal law.

Mamdani, however, ran on a campaign promise to end that cooperation and strengthen New York’s designation as a sanctuary city.

Mamdani, who previously served as a state assemblyman representing western Queens, has been a vocal critic of federal immigration enforcement.

He has described ICE as “a rogue agency, one that has no interest in laws, no interest in order,” and pledged to prevent city resources from being used in deportation operations.

During his campaign, Mamdani proposed new measures to block coordination between city departments and ICE, including limiting access to municipal records and prohibiting NYPD officers from accompanying federal agents during arrests or investigations involving immigration status.

His transition team has said those policies will be among the first executive actions considered after his inauguration in January.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized Mamdani’s immigration stance.

In a post on Truth Social on November 3, Trump warned that New York City could lose significant federal funding if Mamdani carries out his plans.

“If Mamdani wins, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” the President wrote.

Federal officials have not confirmed whether funding adjustments are under review, though the White House has maintained that sanctuary city policies undermine national immigration enforcement.

Mamdani’s position comes amid an ongoing rise in the number of illegal aliens settling in New York, with city shelters housing tens of thousands of migrants as of this month.

City agencies have warned that costs related to housing and social services have strained the municipal budget.

The mayor-elect has said that his administration will focus on “protecting New Yorkers” regardless of immigration status and that local resources should not be used “to enable deportation or intimidation.”

Mamdani is expected to formally take office in January following certification of the election results.

His administration will immediately face the challenge of balancing local sanctuary commitments with potential federal funding restrictions and enforcement directives.