“Know your rights. Protect your neighbours,” Zohran Mamdani issued a message about immigrant rights on Sunday (US time). Taking to his official X profile, the New York City mayor-elect posted a video, urging the people to “stand up” to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in light of the agency’s ramped up crackdown under the Donald Trump administration.

In his tweet, the Indian-origin US assemblyman further affirmed that New York has always been and will be a “city for all immigrants.”

Mamdani’s message on immigrants rights and ICE raids

“I’ll protect the rights of every single New Yorker,” Mamdani said in the video message. “And that includes the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city their home.”

Sharing how “we call stand up to ICE,” the mayor-elect emphasised that knowing one’s rights was the key to it all. He went on to detail a number of things every New Yorker should know by heart in case they encounter federal agents.

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“ICE cannot enter into private spaces like you home, school or private area or your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” he continued, sharing a glimpse of the said official document. If ICE doesn’t have the warrant in hand, Mamdani educated New Yorkers that they have the right to say “I do not consent to entry,” and may keep their door closed.

The mayor-elect then disclosed that ICE has at times relied on a different paperwork titled “Appendix C” and “Warrant of Removal/Deportation.” He noted that authorities may used the document to back their claims to arrest an individual. However, this warrant is not legally sufficient to allow ICE agents into homes or non-public areas.

Without mincing any words, Mamdani said, “ICE is legally allowed to lie to you. But you have the right to remain silent.” And so, if one is being detained, the NYC politician told New Yorkers that they may repeatedly ask the agents “Am I free to go?” until they given in and respond.

On top of that, he noted, “You are legally allowed to film ICE as long as you do not interfere with an arrest.” But more importantly, Mamdani advised that it is essential to maintain one’s calm during any sort of interaction with law enforcement. “Do not impeded their investigation, resist arrest or run,” the mayor-elect asserted.

He then went on to remind New Yorkers of their constitutional right to protest, reassuring citizens that when he formally steps into office, he “will protect that right.” Mamdani will be officially sworn in as the NYC mayor on January 1, 2026.

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ICE raids in New York City

Zohran Mamdani’s “new era for NYC” reminder comes about a week after ICE raids made headlines in the Big Apple. At the time, about 200 protesters stood up to the authorities in Canal Street, leading to several arrests.

Merely days ago, local US news outlet PIX11 News reported that West African Canal Street vendors were on edge amid ongoing ICE protests. As the demonstration slipped into violent territory, even the NYPD was deployed to get things under control.

“They were instructed multiple times to disperse, and they did not comply,” an NYPD spokesperson said of the protesters, as per PIX11 News. “As a result, multiple individuals were taken into custody. The NYPD had no involvement with the federal operation, and does not conduct civil immigration enforcement, period.”