Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video laying out what New Yorkers should know when they encounter U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pledging city-level protections for immigrant communities while vowing to defend the constitutional right to protest.
The short video arrived after an attempted ICE raid in Manhattan and signals how the incoming administration plans to respond to federal enforcement actions that it views as threatening to immigrant New Yorkers. Mamdani frames the message around legal rights and practical steps so people can feel informed and ready if confronted by agents. The tone is protective and outward-facing, aimed at calming fear while encouraging civic awareness.
He opened the message by citing the recent Manhattan enforcement action and stressing a broad commitment to the city’s immigrant population. “As mayor, I’ll protect the rights of every single New Yorker, and that includes the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city their home,” he said. “But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”
Mamdani moves quickly from principle to practical advice for those who might encounter ICE in private spaces. “First, ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” Mamdani advised. “If ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry’ and the right to keep your door closed.’”
He also warned that officers may present paperwork and claim authority to detain, but cautioned the public to be skeptical of such showings. Mamdani bluntly described false claims of authority and urged people to rely on legal standards rather than intimidation. The administration wants people to know the difference between valid judicial warrants and other paperwork.
“ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent,” the mayor-elect said. “If you’re being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you.” That line underscores the push for exercising constitutional protections and keeping interactions focused on clear legal questions.
The video also addresses common bystander actions and what is permitted during an enforcement encounter. Mamdani noted that people are “legally allowed to film” ICE agents as long as they do not interfere with an arrest, encouraging documentation while avoiding obstruction. The guidance is deliberate: record when safe, ask clear questions, and protect your own physical safety.
He closed the public guidance by tying civil liberties to everyday protest and civic engagement, insisting the city will defend those rights. “New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I’m mayor, we will protect that right,” he said. “New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
The remarks came a few weeks after Mamdani met with President Donald Trump, a meeting that he said found common ground on issues like affordability and city conditions. That encounter did not, however, alter his stance on sanctuary protections or on limiting city cooperation with certain federal immigration actions. The mayor-elect has sought to balance engagement with the federal government and a firm municipal policy toward immigrant safety.
At a Bronx church appearance he reiterated the city’s sanctuary posture and explained its practical limits in public safety terms. “I shared with the president directly that New Yorkers want to follow the laws of our city, and the laws of our city say that, in our sanctuary city policies, city government can be in touch with the federal government on around 170 serious crimes,” Mamdani said last month. “The concern comes from beyond those crimes, the many New Yorkers who are being arrested, they’re being detained, they’re being deported for the crime of making a regular court appearance.”
“My focus as the next mayor of this city is going to be to protect immigrants who call this city their home,” the mayor-elect added. Those closing words reinforce the administration’s priority to pair legal information with policy promises intended to keep vulnerable residents informed and supported.
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