New York’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has told illegal migrants how to resist federal immigration enforcement agents in a shock new video.
The socialist set out his stall as the mayor of “more than three million immigrants” in the clip on Sunday – in which he called on illegals to “stand up” to Ice (Immigration Customs Enforcement).
“Last weekend, Ice attempted to raid Canal Street and detain our immigrant neighbours,” Mr Mamdani said in the video.
“As Mayor, I’ll protect the rights of every single New Yorker.
“And that includes the more than three million immigrants who call this city their home.”
Standing in front of a flip chart, the Big Apple’s next Mayor explained the legal protections available to those in Ice’s firing line.
“Ice cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school, or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” Mr Mamdani said.
“You have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry,’ and the right to keep your door closed,” he added.
‘New York will always welcome immigrants,’ Uganda-born Zohran Mamdani vowed
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The Uganda-born Mayor-elect said immigration officers are allowed to deceive people, but individuals retain the right to stay silent.
“If you are being detained, you may always ask, ‘Am I free to go?’ repeatedly until they answer you,” Mr Mamdani said.
He also told migrants to film Ice agents – provided it does not obstruct an arrest.
The video sparked fierce backlash from conservative commentators online.
“Aiding abetting and advising criminals,” Liz Rios wrote on social media.
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Zohran Mamdani has told illegal migrants how to resist federal immigration enforcement agents
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GETTYWhile political commentator Carmine Sabia responded: “Then you ignore laws that you do not like? We should not bother to have borders or immigration laws?”
Another user suggested Mr Mamdani was “the best gift Democrats have ever handed to [the] GOP.”
The Mayor-elect will be formally sworn in on January 1, 2026 – with observers bracing for clashes between America’s biggest city and its New Yorker President Donald Trump.
Mr Trump has repeatedly warned that Mr Mamdani is a communist – though the duo held a warm meeting at the White House last month.
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani had a friendly meeting in the White House last month
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REUTERSElsewhere in his video, the city’s first Muslim Mayor appeared to back anti-Ice activists disrupting law enforcement on the streets.
Last Saturday, a raid in Chinatown was disrupted by hundreds of furious protesters.
The incident marked the second major raid in the area within six weeks.
Nine undocumented migrants were detained during similar operations in October.
“New Yorkers have a constitutional right to protest, and when I’m mayor, we will protect that right,” Mr Mamdani told viewers.
