New York — Mayor-elect of New York City Zahran Mamdani He posted a video on social media on Sunday explaining immigrants’ right to refuse to speak to or comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, days after federal agents conducted a raid in Manhattan.
In the video, Mamdani pledged to protect the city’s 3 million immigrants, saying, “We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”
He explained that people in the United States can choose not to speak to federal immigration agents, be photographed without interference, and have their requests to enter private places denied. Mamdani said ICE agents cannot enter places such as a home, school or a private area of a workplace without a warrant signed by a judge.
“ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If you are in custody, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?'” over and over until they answer you, said Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on January 1.
His comments came a week after protesters gathered when Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to detain people on Canal Street near New York’s Chinatown. A similar migration operation took place in the same neighborhood last October It was also met with protests.
“New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters,” Mamdani said in the video broadcast Sunday.
Weeks ago, Mamdani was surprisingly cordial Oval Office meeting With President Donald Trump, whose administration carries out federal immigration enforcement operations in several US cities, most recently in New Orleans.