Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani offered advice to illegal immigrants on how to evade ICE in a video message Sunday — calling on illegal immigrants to “stand up” to the federal agents and “know your rights.”
The Democratic socialist positioned himself as the mayor of “more than 3 million immigrants” as he spoke following last weekend’s ICE raid in Chinatown, which was disrupted by protesters.
“Last weekend, ICE attempted to raid Canal Street and detain our immigrant neighbors,” Mamdani said in a video posted on X on Sunday. “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.
Zohran Mamdani has made a video advising New Yorkers on how to evade ICE. X/@ZohranKMamdani“But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights,” the Queens Assembly member added, standing in front of a flip chart with the words “Know your rights” scrawled on it.
“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 said, bringing up an example of such a warrant on the screen.
“You have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry,’ and the right to keep your door closed,” he added, before showing an example of the non-binding legal paperwork he said ICE may show instead of a judicial warrant.
“ICE is legally allowed to lie to you. But you have the right to remain silent. If you are being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you,” Mamdani said.
“You are legally allowed to film ICE, as long as you do not interfere with an arrest,” he added.
The New York mayor-elect issued a checklist of potential ways to thwart an ICE arrest. X/@ZohranKMamdani“New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I’m mayor, we will protect that right,” Mamdani said.
Of the 3 million immigrants who call the Big Apple home, at least 412,000 are in the country illegally, according to 2022 data from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the most recent available numbers.
The mayor-elect’s video sparked an outcry from several on the right who argue that illegal immigrants are criminals — as many anticipate riled relations with the Trump administration once Mamdani takes office.
Mamdani and President Trump had an unexpectedly chummy sitdown when the pair met in the White House last month, but the bromance could be short-lived as the feds and incoming city administration appear on a crash course over their views on illegal immigration enforcement.
He vowed to be the mayor for New York’s “3 million immigrants.” Getty Images“Then you ignore laws that you do not like? We should not bother to have borders or immigration laws?” conservative political commentator Carmine Sabia wrote in reply.
“Aiding abetting and advising criminals,” Liz Rios wrote on X.
“This man is the best gift Democrats have ever handed to [the] GOP,” another user wrote.
The White House and Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
Last Saturday’s raid saw almost 200 protesters block ICE officers from a Lower Manhattan parking garage.
It was the second large-scale raid of its kind in the area in six weeks, after nine illegal aliens were arrested in raids in October.
