The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) is criticizing New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for what they see as his “deafening” silence regarding a recent shooting involving a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer in a city park on Saturday night. Acting director Todd Lyons remarked that Mamdani’s silence is “intentional” and aligns with his anti-law enforcement stance, which he claims could endanger law-abiding New Yorkers.
Lyons stated, “His silence in the face of this brutal attack speaks volumes of where his priorities lie. It’s not about public safety.” This incident reportedly involved two undocumented immigrants accused of attempted robbery, leading to a CBP official being hospitalized after being struck in the face.
In connection to the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized New York City’s sanctuary policies. DHS Deputy Chief Tricia McLaughlin underscored the need for sanctuary politicians to prioritize the safety of citizens, stating, “These illegal aliens have pulled the trigger, but Zoran Mamdani and politicians from other sanctuaries in the country have blood on their hands.” McLaughlin emphasized their commitment to removing these criminals from the city.
In contrast, Mamdani has yet to publicly address this incident. His social media and campaign platforms have not shared any official statements related to the violence or border policies. After winning the primary election in June, he had previously mentioned the intention to collaborate with police to deal with illegal immigration issues, but he also opposed ICE’s enforcement actions.
Following the incident, New York Mayor Eric Adams pointed out a need for more collaboration with law enforcement to tackle crime, but he also expressed his reluctance to pursue individuals merely trying to become citizens. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa highlighted that he stands alone in opposing the sanctuary city status that many, including Adams and Mamdani, support.
Furthermore, public scrutiny of federal immigration officials has heightened, with reports suggesting a significant increase in attacks on ICE agents amidst evolving immigration enforcement policies.
