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elected mayor of New York Zoran Mamdani on Sunday released a video outlining the rights of New Yorkers during meetings with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the attempted raid in Manhattan, vowing that his administration would protect immigrant communities while defending the city's constitutional right to protest.
The video comes as New York's immigration enforcement faces new scrutiny, highlighting how Mamdani plans to fight back against federal actions that he says threaten immigrant communities and require New Yorkers to be prepared, informed and confident to assert their legal rights.
At the beginning of the video, Mamdani recalls an ICE raid in Manhattan last weekend to detain immigrants.
“As mayor, I will protect the rights of every New Yorker, including the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city home,” he said. “But we can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.”
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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks at a news conference in the borough of Queens in New York City on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. (Heather Khalifa/AP Photo)
Then he suggested guide for immigrants who may encounter ICE.
“First, ICE cannot enter private premises, such as your home, school, or the private area of your workplace, without a court order signed by a judge,” Mamdani advised. “Unless ICE has a bench warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to say, ‘I am not granting entry,’ and the right to keep the door closed.”
He noted that ICE can provide documentation of arrest authority, but said “that is a lie.”
“ICE has the right to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent,” the mayor-elect said. “If you are detained, you can always ask, 'Can I leave?' several times until they answer you.”
Mamdani also said people are “legally allowed to film” ICE agents as long as they are not interfering with an arrest.
“It is important to remain calm during any interaction with ICE or law enforcement agencies. Do not interfere with their investigation, do not resist arrest or flee,” he said.
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Zoran Mamdani, mayor-elect of New York City (left), and President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 21, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaka/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Mamdani concluded by emphasizing New Yorkers' constitutional right to protest.
“New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I become mayor, we will protect that right,” he said. “New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight every day to protect, support and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
The video emerged more than two weeks after the mayor-elect met with the president. Donald Trumpseemed to pave a new path in their relationship as they found common ground on issues of accessibility and improving conditions in New York City.
Despite this meeting, Mamdani reaffirmed New York's status as a city of sanctuary during a speech at a church in the Bronx.
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“I told the president directly that New Yorkers want to follow our city's laws, and our city's laws state that under our sanctuary city policy, the city government can liaise with the federal government on approximately 170 serious crimes,” Mamdani said last month. “The concern is not just about these crimes: many New Yorkers are being arrested, detained and deported for the crime of regularly appearing in court.”
“My goal as the next mayor of this city will be to protect the immigrants who call this city home,” the mayor-elect added.
