New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has taken a stand against President Trump’s threats regarding immigrant status and denounced the president’s call for his arrest due to his opposition to the operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Trump stated that if Mamdani is hindering ICE agents from performing their duties, “We have to arrest him,” also referencing unfounded claims about Mamdani’s illegal entry into the country.
Mamdani, who originally came from Uganda, moved to the U.S. legally as a child with his family.
In response to a reporter’s question, Trump commented, “We look at it very carefully. A lot of people say he’s here illegally. We see everything.”
These remarks follow Congressman Andy Ogres (R-Tenn.) suggesting that Mamdani should be deported and urging Attorney General Pam Bondy to act on this matter.
Mamdani addressed Trump’s threats in a statement, asserting, “Not because I broke the law, but because I refuse to let ICE terrorize our city.” He emphasized that Trump’s statement isn’t just an assault on democracy, but also a warning to New Yorkers who refuse to “hide in the shadows.”
Trump also voiced support for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election as an independent candidate ahead of the Democratic primary. Trump called Adams “a very good guy,” mentioning that he “helped him a bit” during Adams’ recent corruption allegations, which surfaced under the Trump administration.
Trump remarked that Adams faced unfair scrutiny, particularly regarding immigration issues, and noted, “New York City was indicted the following day,” indicating the challenging climate for immigrants in the city.
Adams has repeatedly suggested, without substantiating evidence, that he is being politically targeted for his critiques of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. The corruption charges against him were dropped in April amid controversy, with accusations of accepting bribes from a wealthy foreign businessman and a Turkish government official.
A number of federal prosecutors resigned from the Department of Justice, claiming they were sidelined in handling Adams’ case, which involved “Quid Pro Quo” exchanges that influenced decisions on the charges.
Adams has denied any occurrence of Quid Pro Quo or fraudulent activities.
Mamdani criticized Trump’s endorsement of Adams, stating that it highlights the necessity of ending Adams’ tenure as mayor, accusing him of embodying Trump’s “division, distraction, hatred.”
