Mamdani accuses Blakeman of bigotry as ICE shooting intensifies New York clash

NEW YORK (MNTV) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has accused Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman of repeatedly exhibiting “bigotry and racism,” escalating a dispute over immigration enforcement and the treatment of working-class New Yorkers following a contentious debate between Blakeman and Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Mamdani defended Hochul after she faced questions over her response to Blakeman’s accusations that the mayor is antisemitic. 

Mamdani said he had not watched the debate live and had seen only a clip, but argued that Blakeman’s rhetoric and policy positions reflected a broader effort to make life harder for working people.

“It is hard for anyone to keep up with all of the bigotry and racism that Bruce Blakeman exhibits on a regular basis,” Mamdani said, adding that he believed Hochul had performed well. He contrasted the governor’s affordability agenda with Blakeman’s hostility toward policies meant to support families, citing the Republican’s criticism of universal childcare — which Blakeman has characterized as rewarding “lazy parents” — and his stated willingness to cut Medicaid funding in half.

The exchange comes amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement in New York, particularly after a shooting involving federal immigration agents in the Bronx left 28-year-old Dominican national Oscar Belgal wounded. 

A five-year-old boy inside Belgal’s vehicle was unharmed. 

The Department of Homeland Security said Belgal had refused to comply with lawful orders during a targeted operation, but the incident prompted renewed scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics and the risks posed to civilians, particularly children.

During Tuesday’s debate, Blakeman defended cooperation between local authorities and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), blaming New York’s sanctuary policies for the shooting. 

He said Nassau County had removed more than 2,000 migrants with criminal records through cooperation with ICE, citing alleged offenses including rape, attempted murder, robbery, drug dealing and gang activity.

Hochul criticized Blakeman for refusing to condemn the shooting, calling his response a “non-answer” and arguing that firing into a vehicle without knowing who is inside creates unacceptable risks. 

“If that doesn’t shock the conscience of everybody … it should shock his conscience as well,” she said. The governor, who oversees more than 500 policing agencies statewide, said the incident illustrated increasingly reckless conduct by federal immigration authorities, including in Nassau County.

Blakeman rejected that criticism, maintaining the shooting would not have occurred without Hochul’s sanctuary policies and reinforcing the Republican argument that stricter enforcement and local cooperation with ICE are necessary for public safety.

The dispute highlights a broader national divide over immigration enforcement, with Republicans emphasizing deportations and cooperation with federal authorities while critics raise concerns about due process, excessive force and harm to civilians. 

For Mamdani, the confrontation also reflects a wider struggle over the future of New York, placing childcare, Medicaid and affordability against what he describes as punitive approaches to immigration and social welfare. 

The presence of a five-year-old during the Bronx shooting has intensified calls for transparent investigation and safeguards to protect civilians during enforcement operations.