New York City – December 9, 2025
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, fresh off his upset victory in the November 2025 mayoral election, has launched a bold initiative to shield the city's immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement. In a two-minute video posted to social media on Sunday, Mamdani outlined key legal protections for New Yorkers during encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, vowing to make the city a bulwark against what he described as aggressive raids.
The video, titled "Know Your Rights When Dealing With ICE," opens with a reference to an attempted ICE operation last weekend on Canal Street in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood, where agents sought to detain undocumented immigrants but were reportedly thwarted by community resistance and local authorities. "Last weekend, ICE attempted to raid Canal Street and detain our immigrant neighbors," Mamdani states in the clip, which has garnered over 176,000 views on YouTube within 24 hours. "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, a Democratic Socialist and Ugandan-born state assemblyman representing Queens, emphasizes practical steps residents can take to assert their constitutional protections. Drawing from guidelines issued by immigrant rights groups like the ACLU, he advises:
Refuse entry without a warrant: ICE agents cannot enter private spaces—such as homes, schools, or workplaces—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," he explains, displaying an example of a valid warrant on screen.
Remain silent: Agents are "legally allowed to lie" to gain compliance, but individuals have the right to stay quiet and repeatedly ask, "Am I free to go?"
Record interactions: New Yorkers may film ICE agents as long as they do not interfere with an arrest.
Avoid escalation: Mamdani urges calm, warning against resisting arrest, impeding investigations, or fleeing, which could lead to additional charges.
He closes on an defiant note: "New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I'm mayor, we will protect that right. 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 release comes as President Donald Trump's second-term administration ramps up deportation efforts, with ICE announcing plans for nationwide sweeps targeting an estimated 1 million undocumented individuals in sanctuary cities like New York. Mamdani's victory in the November 4 election—defeating moderate Democrat Andrew Cuomo in a surprise progressive surge—has positioned him as a key figure in the growing clash between local leaders and federal immigration policy. During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to expand NYC's sanctuary city status, limit NYPD cooperation with ICE, and allocate city resources to legal aid for immigrants.
The video has sparked a firestorm of reactions online and in media circles. Supporters hailed it as a vital public service, with immigrant advocacy groups like Make the Road New York praising Mamdani for "empowering communities with knowledge that could save lives." New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, expressed support on Monday, stating she saw "no problem" with the mayor-elect's message, emphasizing that it aligns with longstanding state protections for immigrants.
Critics, however, accused Mamdani of inciting lawlessness and undermining federal authority. Conservative outlets like the New York Post labeled the video an "instruction manual on how to evade ICE," with one editorial calling it a "direct challenge to the Trump administration." On X (formerly Twitter), users decried it as "egging on illegal immigrants to defy the law," with posts from accounts like @RealAmVoice framing it as part of a broader Democratic effort to harbor undocumented individuals. One viral thread from a self-described "conservative patriot" account urged federal intervention, writing, "Mamdani is telling people to stand up against ICE... It's time for Trump to save NY."
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the backlash but reiterated in a statement that the video is "purely educational, based on established legal precedents, and aimed at preventing abuses of power." As Mamdani prepares to take office on January 1, 2026, his stance signals potential legal battles ahead, including lawsuits from the federal government challenging NYC's non-cooperation policies.
Immigrant rights remain a flashpoint in the city that boasts the largest foreign-born population in the U.S., with over 37% of residents hailing from abroad. Advocates warn that without such guidance, vulnerable communities could face heightened fear and exploitation. As one X user from a migration-focused account put it, "This video isn't defiance—it's survival in a city under siege."
The full video is available on Mamdani's YouTube channel, where it continues to circulate amid the polarized discourse.
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