The newly elected Mayor of New York City, Zahran Mamdani, shared a video on social media yesterday, Sunday, explaining migrants’ right to refuse to speak with agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or to comply with their requests, following federal agents’ raids in Manhattan earlier this week.
In the video, Mamdani promised to protect the city’s three million migrants, saying: “We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”
Immigrants’ Legal Protections Explained
According to the Associated Press, Mamdani explained that people in the United States can choose not to speak to federal immigration officers, can record them without interference, and can refuse their requests to enter private spaces.
Mamdani added that ICE officers cannot enter places such as homes, schools, or private areas at workplaces without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.
Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on January 1, stated: “ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If you are detained, you always have the right to ask: ‘Am I free to leave?’ again and again until they answer you.”
Mayor-Elect Reaffirms Support for Immigrants
Mamdani’s comments came a week after protesters gathered when ICE attempted to detain people on Canal Street near Manhattan’s Chinatown. A similar immigrant sweep in the same neighborhood last October was also met with demonstrations.
In the video published Sunday, Mamdani said: “New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
Weeks earlier, Mamdani held a surprise friendly meeting in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump, whose administration has been conducting immigration enforcement operations in numerous U.S. cities, most recently in New Orleans.