NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Reminds Immigrants of Their Rights After ICE Raid in Manhattan

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video on Sunday outlining immigrants’ rights when approached by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), days after a federal raid in Manhattan sparked protests.

Mamdani, who takes office on January 1, said New York’s three million immigrants should know they are not obligated to speak with ICE agents, can legally record encounters, and may refuse entry to private spaces unless agents present a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

“ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent,” Mamdani said, adding that anyone detained may repeatedly ask, “Am I free to go?” until they receive a clear answer.

His message followed a tense incident last week when ICE agents attempted arrests on Canal Street near Chinatown, drawing immediate demonstrations. A similar sweep in the area last October prompted comparable backlash.

“New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters,” Mamdani said in the video.

The statement comes just weeks after Mamdani held an unexpectedly cordial Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, whose administration has launched stepped-up immigration enforcement operations in multiple cities, including a recent sweep in New Orleans.