As Trump doubles down on raids, Mamdani draws line: Not in New York

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s sharp criticism of ongoing federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis has added to growing national debate over the role of federal agents in domestic policing. In a nationally televised interview aired on January 25, 2026, Mamdani condemned the tactics used by federal agents, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in recent deadly encounters with U.S. citizens.

The mayor made his remarks during an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” one day before the second fatal shooting by a federal agent in Minneapolis within the same month. He described the enforcement actions as “horrific” and said they served neither public safety nor democratic values. Mamdani stated that he had conveyed this position directly to President Donald Trump.

The Biden-era Safe Communities policy that limited ICE’s coordination with local law enforcement was formally revoked during Trump’s second term, allowing expanded deployments of federal personnel into U.S. cities. Mamdani’s criticism highlights the renewed tensions between sanctuary cities and the federal government over immigration authority and enforcement discretion.

What is happening in Minneapolis and why are federal enforcement actions under scrutiny?

Federal immigration operations in Minneapolis have come under intense scrutiny after two fatal shootings involving federal agents in less than 30 days. On January 7, Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent while sitting in her car. According to official records, Good was not the subject of any immigration enforcement action. Her death prompted sustained protests in Minneapolis and national condemnation from immigrant rights groups.

On January 20, another 37-year-old U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, was shot multiple times by a CBP agent in Minneapolis. Federal officials have since labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” though no public evidence has yet been presented to support this characterization. Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the statements from federal agencies “nonsense” and “lies,” escalating tensions between the state and federal authorities.

Federal immigration agencies, including ICE and CBP, operate under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversight. The agents involved in these shootings were reportedly deployed under Operation Homeland Shield, a Trump administration program that expanded the authority of federal agents to conduct proactive “interior enforcement” missions in urban areas.

Critics argue that the increased use of federal agents in civilian spaces—without local coordination or judicial warrants—raises serious constitutional questions about due process, public safety, and the militarization of domestic law enforcement.

What has Mayor Mamdani said about federal agents operating in New York City?

Mayor Mamdani, who took office on January 1, 2026, made clear in his remarks that he would use all available legal and political tools to prevent similar operations in New York City. He described the current federal tactics as a violation of the social contract and warned that they instill widespread fear in immigrant communities.

He stated that the climate of fear observed in Minneapolis is also present in New York, driven by concerns about being “terrorized” by masked federal agents. Mamdani, himself a naturalized U.S. citizen, said the enforcement practices were undermining Americans’ basic sense of safety and belonging.

He further pledged to use litigation and public advocacy to block any attempts to replicate Minneapolis-style operations in New York, describing the city’s values and legal protections as non-negotiable. These remarks echo the city’s long-standing sanctuary status, which limits cooperation with ICE unless legally mandated.

What tools can cities use to resist federal immigration operations?

Cities like New York have a range of administrative, legal, and political mechanisms they can use to challenge federal enforcement actions. These include local laws that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities, such as prohibiting municipal agencies from sharing data or holding individuals for ICE without a judicial warrant.

New York City’s Executive Order 41 and the broader “sanctuary city” framework prevent city agencies, including the NYPD, from inquiring about or disclosing immigration status except under specific circumstances. Legal challenges can also be mounted on constitutional grounds, particularly if federal actions are viewed as violating Fourth or Fourteenth Amendment protections.

However, legal precedent generally favors federal supremacy in immigration enforcement. The 2012 Supreme Court ruling in Arizona v. United States reaffirmed that the federal government has broad authority over immigration law. Still, localities can regulate how their own resources and personnel are used, creating operational friction for federal agents.

Under Mamdani’s administration, legal scholars expect New York to expand its defensive legal posture against federal incursions, potentially invoking state-level civil rights protections or filing amicus briefs in federal cases challenging DHS actions.

How does this fit into the broader federal–local immigration conflict under Trump’s second term?

President Trump’s return to office in 2025 marked a restoration of aggressive immigration enforcement policies. The administration’s second-term strategy has prioritized expanded interior enforcement, resumption of workplace raids, and stricter asylum processing at ports of entry and in interior jurisdictions.

Operation Homeland Shield, launched in August 2025, authorized deployments of ICE and CBP agents into selected urban areas identified as “non-cooperative jurisdictions.” Minneapolis was among the first cities to see an increase in federal operations under this program.

The policy has revived the conflict between federal authority and local resistance that characterized Trump’s first term. Mayors of major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and now New York have issued statements opposing these enforcement tactics. Federal officials, including DHS Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, have defended the program, citing national security and immigration law compliance.

What does this mean for Mayor Mamdani’s relationship with the federal government?

Despite his strong criticism of the Trump administration’s enforcement strategy, Mayor Mamdani indicated that he has maintained a functional relationship with President Trump. Their Oval Office meeting in November 2025 was publicly described as cordial, though the mayor declined to provide details about ongoing conversations.

Mamdani characterized his approach as transactional and focused on delivering for New Yorkers. He said that while he would oppose federal policies that harm the city, he remained open to cooperation on issues where federal and municipal interests align.

His stance echoes those of other urban mayors who have sought to balance confrontation with pragmatism, particularly in areas like infrastructure funding, public health, or emergency response coordination.

How is Mamdani’s broader agenda shaping political discourse in New York?

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, won the mayoralty on a platform focused on housing affordability, social services, and economic equity. His inaugural address emphasized a shift from “rugged individualism” to “collectivism,” a phrase that drew strong criticism from conservative media and business groups.

In his interview with Jonathan Karl, Mamdani said the statement was intended to reflect the isolation many New Yorkers feel in navigating housing, healthcare, and employment challenges. He argued that collective approaches to policymaking were necessary to address structural inequities.

When asked about the city’s global economic role, Mamdani said he supported continued prosperity and saw no contradiction between a thriving capitalist hub and a redistributive social agenda. He said he wanted wealthy residents to remain in the city and to be included in a broader civic vision.

Mamdani’s tax proposals, including higher levies on top earners and real estate transactions, have been met with resistance by business groups, but he has maintained that such measures are essential for sustainable urban development.

What the New York–Minneapolis immigration standoff reveals about federal and city power in 2026

• Federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis have drawn national attention after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by ICE and CBP agents within a month.

• New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly condemned the tactics as “horrific” and pledged to prevent similar operations in New York through legal and political means.

• Operation Homeland Shield, a Trump administration policy, has expanded the authority of federal agents in urban centers, intensifying conflict with sanctuary cities.

• Constitutional questions surrounding federal overreach, due process, and states’ rights are likely to remain at the forefront of immigration debates in 2026.

• Mamdani’s remarks signal a broader resistance from municipal leaders to federal interior enforcement, setting up potential legal and political clashes in key cities.