NYC Mayor-Elect Advises Residents on Responding to ICE Home Visits in New Video

New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has released an educational video outlining immigrant rights during encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a controversial raid attempt in Manhattan. The video represents one of Mamdani’s first public initiatives before taking office and signals his administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

“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,” Mamdani stated in the video. “But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”

The timing of the release comes amid heightened tensions between federal immigration authorities and sanctuary cities like New York, which limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Mamdani’s stance positions New York City as a potential flashpoint in the national immigration debate as the incoming Trump administration prepares to implement more aggressive enforcement policies.

In the instructional video, Mamdani provides specific guidance for immigrants who may encounter ICE agents. He emphasizes that federal agents cannot legally enter private spaces such as homes, schools, or private workplace areas without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.

“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,” Mamdani advised.

The mayor-elect also clarified several common misconceptions about encounters with immigration authorities. He noted that while ICE may present various documents claiming authority to make arrests, residents should understand their right to remain silent and to ask repeatedly if they are free to go when detained. He added that people are legally permitted to record ICE operations provided they don’t interfere with arrests.

Mamdani’s video comes approximately two weeks after his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, where the two leaders appeared to establish a working relationship despite fundamental disagreements on immigration policy. During that meeting, they reportedly found common ground on issues like affordability and improving conditions in New York City.

However, following the White House visit, Mamdani reaffirmed New York’s status as a sanctuary city during a speech at a Bronx church. He explained his position to constituents: “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’s approach reflects the complicated balancing act faced by mayors of sanctuary cities under the incoming Trump administration. The president-elect has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and has previously threatened to withhold federal funding from cities that don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

New York City, home to an estimated 3 million immigrants, has long maintained sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies. These policies prohibit city agencies from inquiring about immigration status in most circumstances and restrict information sharing with ICE except in cases involving serious crimes.

The mayor-elect closed his video by emphasizing that New York will continue to welcome immigrants and protect constitutional rights, including the right to protest. “New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters,” he said.

Political analysts suggest Mamdani’s early focus on immigration signals that the issue will be a defining aspect of his mayoral tenure, particularly as federal enforcement actions are expected to intensify under the incoming administration. The video also demonstrates Mamdani’s approach to governance—directly communicating with constituents on sensitive issues while maintaining dialogue with federal authorities.