Mamdani mandates stronger enforcement of NYC sanctuary protections following ICE surge
Mayor orders agencies to strengthen immigrant protections amid documented rise in federal immigration enforcement activity
NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – Mayor Zohran Mamdani has directed New York City agencies to strengthen enforcement of sanctuary protections, reinforcing limits on cooperation with federal immigration authorities amid a documented rise in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity under the Trump administration.
The directive follows a City Hall audit assessing compliance with sanctuary laws that restrict local participation in federal immigration enforcement. The review concluded that immigration enforcement activity in New York City has increased significantly, with 5,567 arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement between January 20, 2025, and March 10, 2026, representing a 71 percent rise compared with a comparable period under the Biden administration.
The report identified 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan as a central site of enforcement, accounting for more than half of all arrests. It also documented a sharp increase in civil immigration detainer requests to the New York Police Department, rising to 3,672 in fiscal year 2025 from 99 in the previous year.
City officials and immigrant rights advocates have raised concerns about unauthorized cooperation between local agencies and federal immigration authorities. Prior Department of Investigation reports found instances in which police and correctional personnel shared information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, reinforcing calls for stricter internal controls and oversight.
The audit highlights continued risks in enforcement settings, including reported incidents in which federal agents allegedly gained access to shelters and city facilities using deceptive tactics, including impersonation and misrepresentation of intent. These included cases involving false identification as city employees and attempts to access sensitive administrative records under pretextual requests.
In response, Mamdani has ordered the New York Police Department to implement a new protocol requiring immediate notification of leadership and legal staff after any reported presence of immigration enforcement during emergency calls. The directive also requires deployment of patrol units to document and respond to such incidents.
The Department of Social Services has been instructed to revise access controls for city properties following reports that federal agents entered shelters without authorization. The audit cited multiple incidents in which immigration enforcement personnel allegedly entered facilities in plainclothes or under false pretenses.
The administration also addressed concerns regarding orders of protection in family court cases, which the audit identified as a potential pathway for increased immigration vulnerability. The mayor instructed the Administration for Children’s Services to tighten referral criteria while maintaining child safety protections.
Supporters of the policy shift argue that stronger enforcement of sanctuary protections is necessary to prevent local systems from being used to facilitate federal deportation operations. Immigrant advocacy groups have emphasized that existing safeguards remain insufficient, calling for deeper structural reforms to prevent indirect cooperation.
Mamdani framed the audit and subsequent directives as part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with city law and to reinforce protections for immigrant communities in the face of intensified federal enforcement actions.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
