New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said he is prepared to face arrest over his opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, describing the defense of immigrant rights as central to his incoming administration.
In an interview with MS Now, Mamdani said he is “prepared for any consequence that comes for standing up for New Yorkers,” adding: “I’m proud to inform people of their rights, and I can’t think of a more American thing to do than to speak about the protections that we all have under the law.”
Mamdani’s remarks follow the release of a video urging New Yorkers to understand their rights during encounters with immigration agents. In it, he said ICE cannot enter homes, schools, or non-public workplaces without a judicial warrant. “ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent,” he said, adding that individuals may ask “Am I free to go?” and may record enforcement activity as long as they do not interfere.
His comments drew a stark warning from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who suggested Mamdani could be “violating the Constitution by giving advice on how to evade law enforcement and how to get away with breaking the law.”
His guidance also drew criticism White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt who said on Thursday that the administration is “definitely concerned” about what she described as rising attacks on ICE officers following Mamdani’s message, adding that “hese are agents who are just simply doing their jobs.”
Mamdani has rejected those claims on the MS Now interview, saying his position reflects longstanding sanctuary policies and his responsibility to “protect those New Yorkers.”
The mayor-elect also said he raised concerns directly with President Donald Trump in a recent private meeting, pointing to raids at 26 Federal Plaza that he said resulted in family separations. He cited the case of a six-year-old boy from Queens separated from his father, telling Trump that “these kinds of raids are cruel and inhumane and do nothing to serve the interests of public safety.”
Mandani said more than three million city residents are immigrants, including himself, and argued that accountability applies to all officials, including federal officers. “If an ICE agent is breaking the law, then that is a law that they should be held accountable to,” he said.
Originally published on Latin Times
