Diplomat Foreign Desk
New York: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has declined to assist agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal law enforcement agency, in New York City.
His decision has sparked a counterstatement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who claimed that Mamdani has chosen to support illegal immigrants.
The controversial remarks come amid nationwide raids and the detention of several individuals by ICE agents, who have stated that those detained are illegal immigrants being prepared for deportation to their respective countries. However, several cities have reported protests against these actions by ICE agents.
Continuing his strong opposition to the federal administration’s move, Mamdani has categorically ruled out providing any assistance to ICE agents in New York.
In his statement, he said, “We are not here to assist ICE agents in their work. We are here to follow the laws of New York City.”
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, who visited New York City, reacted by stating that such language and provocative remarks by Mamdani were inciting people and, in some cases, leading to violence.
“We have a responsibility to enforce the law of the land, and he (Mamdani) said he stands with those who have broken the law,” Noem said while interacting with journalists in New York.