Mayor Zohran Mamdani demands ICE cease all operations in New York City
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Sunday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should cease all operations in the city, stating the agency’s presence endangers residents.
The remarks were made during an interview on MS NOW’s “Connect” program, where Mamdani described a recent incident in which ICE agents fired multiple shots at a moving vehicle, striking a 28‑year‑old Dominican national in the neck. A five‑year‑old child was also in the car but was unharmed.
Mamdani said the shooting exemplifies a “federal agency that shot at a moving vehicle in broad daylight while its agents were wearing construction vests, using long guns, and left New Yorkers in terror.” He added that the incident reinforces his belief that ICE should not operate in New York at all and that the agency should be abolished.
According to the mayor, he has already called President Donald Trump and will demand an end to ICE enforcement actions in the city. He told a crowd of protesters that he spoke with the president and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin after the shooting, but was unable to secure the detainee’s release.
Governor Kathy Hochul also weighed in, condemning the shooting and joining city leaders in urging ICE to stop its operations. “New Yorkers have witnessed far too many acts of violence by a rogue federal agency and untrained agents that operate with impunity,” Hochul said.
The Department of Homeland Security pushed back, noting the suspect’s extensive criminal record, including prior convictions for grand larceny, assault, robbery, drug possession, and weapons offenses, as well as alleged ties to the Trinitarios gang. DHS blamed New York’s sanctuary policies for forcing ICE agents to conduct community‑wide arrests rather than acting on local detentions.
Mayor Mamdani concluded that public safety is a top priority for the city and that ICE’s tactics create fear rather than safety. He indicated that future steps will involve continued pressure on the federal administration and state officials to halt ICE activities in New York.
Further developments are expected as the mayor’s office plans additional outreach with federal leaders and local community groups to address the ongoing tension over immigration enforcement.
