NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani urges migrants to defy immigration authorities

After outlining how residents should respond to ICE encounters, Mamdani reminded viewers that New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest.

By Aaron Sull, Jewish Breaking News

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is facing sharp criticism after releasing a video urging immigrants to refuse cooperation with federal ICE agents during enforcement operations.

In the clip posted Sunday, Mamdani framed himself as the future mayor of “more than three million immigrants” and told viewers, “We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”

He outlined a series of steps immigrants can take when approached by federal officers such as declining to answer questions, film agents without interfering, and refuse entry to private spaces unless agents present a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

He further noted that ICE officers “are legally allowed to lie,” but individuals retain the right to remain silent and repeatedly ask, “Am I free to go?”

After outlining how residents should respond to ICE encounters, Mamdani reminded viewers that New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest.

“New York will always welcome immigrants,” he declared, promising to “fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.”

Needless to say, the video triggered swift political backlash. Conservative commentator Carmine Sabia accused Mamdani of encouraging people to ignore federal law, asking, “Then you ignore laws you do not like?”

Another critic on social media called the mayor-elect “the best gift Democrats have ever handed the GOP.”

Born in Kampala to Indian parents and naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2018, Mamdani has promised voters that he would defend immigrant communities amid Trump’s expanding federal crackdown.

During the campaign, Trump repeatedly branded him a “communist” and even threatened to arrest the mayor-elect should he interfere with ICE operations.

Yet the two held an unexpectedly cordial Oval Office meeting last month, with Trump later saying he hoped Mamdani would “do a great job” as mayor.

Set to become the city’s first Muslim mayor on Jan. 1, Mamdani’s message landed just days after ICE raids in Manhattan’s Chinatown drew hundreds of protesters who blocked agents during an attempted detention.

A similar sweep last October ended with nine undocumented migrants detained.

MigrantNYCZohran Mamdani