Mamdani tells DHS to keep ICE out of city-owned parking lots or face a lawsuit; DHS says the use is legal
Mayor Zohran Mamdani told DHS that ICE agents must stop staging operations in city-owned parking lots in the Bronx and Queens or the city will sue. DHS says ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law.
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Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
On November 2, 2026, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE officials that agents' reported use of city-owned parking lots in the Bronx and Queens to stage enforcement operations is unauthorized and illegal, and that the city will take legal action if it continues. A DHS spokesperson says ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law.
Read the full background
On February 6, 2026, Mamdani signed Executive Order 13, which directs city agencies on immigration enforcement and access to city property. It notes that city law already bars non-local law enforcement from non-public areas of city property without a judicial warrant, except when city personnel authorize it or in an emergency.
On October 8, ICE agents shot a man in a car in Marble Hill while his 5-year-old son was inside. The city says the agents had been staging their operations from a private parking lot a few blocks away. On October 16, Mamdani wrote to the owners and operators of private garages and lots asking them not to make their property available to ICE as a staging area, in a letter that more than 100 elected officials joined.
On November 2, Mamdani wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, acting ICE Director David J. Venturella and New York field office director Kenneth Genalo. The letter says ICE agents have reportedly parked vehicles and held meetings in unstaffed city-owned lots at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and along 111th Street beside Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, next to a city-run preschool, without the city's authorization. It calls that use illegal, asks ICE to issue guidance barring agents from using any city lots for enforcement operations, and says the city will take legal action if the use continues. The city also announced a new NYC Parks policy on how workers respond when non-local law enforcement seeks access to park property.
A DHS spokesperson says ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law and is standard practice for law enforcement agencies nationwide. Corporation Counsel Steven Banks says the city is prepared to go to court if the use does not stop.
People in this case
Zohran MamdaniDirectly involved
Kathy HochulCommented
Timeline
3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: February 6, 2026 to November 2, 2026
February 2026
Mamdani signs Executive Order 13 on immigration enforcement
Mamdani signs an executive order on protecting New Yorkers from abusive immigration enforcement. It notes that city law bars non-local law enforcement from non-public areas of city property without a judicial warrant and directs city agencies on access to city property.
[01]Executive Order No. 13: Protecting New Yorkers from Abusive Immigration Enforcement
Mamdani's February 6, 2026 executive order on immigration enforcement, which notes that city law bars non-local law enforcement from non-public areas of city property without a judicial warrant and directs city agencies on access to city property.
October 2026
Mamdani asks private lot owners not to let ICE stage operations on their property
After the October 8 shooting in Marble Hill, Mamdani writes to the owners and operators of private garages and lots asking them not to rent, lend or otherwise make their property available to ICE as a staging area.
[02]Letter from Mayor Zohran Mamdani to the owners and operators of parking garages and lots in New York City
Mamdani asks private garage and lot owners not to rent, lend or otherwise make their property available to ICE as a staging area, citing the October 8 Marble Hill shooting and other private lots ICE has used.
[03]The National News Desk
The National News Desk reports on the letter, quotes from it, and recalls Mamdani's October letter asking private parking lot owners to keep ICE off their property.
Mamdani threatens lawsuit against ICE for allegedly using NYC property for operations · The National News DeskFull article
November 2026
Mamdani tells DHS and ICE to stop using city-owned lots and threatens legal action
Mamdani writes to Mullin, Venturella and Genalo that ICE's reported use of city-owned lots in the Bronx and Queens is unauthorized and illegal and says the city will take legal action if it continues. The city also announces a new NYC Parks policy for workers who encounter non-local law enforcement.
[04]Letter from Mayor Zohran Mamdani to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE officials on city-owned lots
Mamdani tells Mullin, acting ICE Director David J. Venturella and New York field office director Kenneth Genalo that ICE's reported use of unstaffed city-owned lots at Van Cortlandt Park and along 111th Street in Queens is unauthorized and illegal, asks them to issue guidance barring agents from using city lots, and says the city will take legal action if the use continues.
[05]Mayor Mamdani demands ICE stop unauthorized use of city lots
The mayor's office announces the letter and a new NYC Parks policy for workers who encounter non-local law enforcement, and prints statements from Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Corporation Counsel Steven Banks and other officials and advocates.
Mayor Mamdani demands ICE stop unauthorized use of city lotsFull news release
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
ICE's use of New York City-owned parking lots to stage immigration enforcement operations without the city's authorization is illegal.
What is disputed
A DHS spokesperson says ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law and is standard practice for law enforcement agencies nationwide. The city says it has not authorized ICE to use the lots and has threatened to sue.
Sources (2)
- Mamdani threatens to sue ICE over reported use of NYC park lots as staging grounds · amNewYorkFull article
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 responses. Newest first.
Zohran MamdaniMayor of New York City, in a city news releaseDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The release says ICE agents have reportedly parked vehicles and held meetings in several unstaffed city-owned lots, including at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and along 111th Street in Queens.
"ICE has no right to use our property as a base for tearing families apart. That goes for every park and every lot this City owns. This unauthorized use of City property must end now"
CondemnedResponding to: ICE's use of New York City-owned parking lots to stage immigration enforcement operations without the city's authorization is illegal.
Full statement and sources
In the city's announcement of his letter to DHS and ICE, Mamdani says ICE has no right to use city property as a base for tearing families apart and that its unauthorized use of city property must end now.
After the statement
He adds that he is telling DHS to order its agents off the city's lots and that if they keep coming back, the city will see them in court.
Mayor Mamdani demands ICE stop unauthorized use of city lotsFull news releaseWhy this label?
The reference point is ICE agents' reported use of unstaffed New York City-owned parking lots in the Bronx and Queens to stage immigration enforcement operations. Mamdani calls the use unauthorized and says it must end, which condemns it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Kathy HochulGovernor of New York, in a statement included in the city's news releaseBefore this statement
Hochul says no family in New York should fear that going to the park or walking through their neighborhood could mean being separated from their loved ones.
"I am deeply disturbed by reports that ICE is using public property to carry out aggressive immigration enforcement operations."
CondemnedResponding to: ICE's use of New York City-owned parking lots to stage immigration enforcement operations without the city's authorization is illegal.
Full statement and sources
In a statement in the city's release, Gov. Kathy Hochul says she is deeply disturbed by reports that ICE is using public property to carry out aggressive immigration enforcement operations, and that she stands with Mamdani in demanding an end to it.
After the statement
She says she was proud to sign the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act and stands with Mamdani in demanding an end to the unauthorized use of city property for these operations.
Mayor Mamdani demands ICE stop unauthorized use of city lotsFull news releaseWhy this label?
The reference point is ICE agents' reported use of unstaffed New York City-owned parking lots in the Bronx and Queens to stage immigration enforcement operations. Hochul says the reported use disturbs her and joins the demand that it end, which condemns it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityDepartment of Homeland Security spokesperson, in a statement to amNewYorkDirectly involvedBefore this statement
amNewYork reports that DHS disputed the city's legal argument after Mamdani sent his letter.
"ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law and is a standard practice for law enforcement agencies nationwide"
Defended or excusedResponding to: ICE's use of New York City-owned parking lots to stage immigration enforcement operations without the city's authorization is illegal.
Full statement and sources
Responding to Mamdani's letter, a DHS spokesperson says ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law and is standard practice for law enforcement agencies nationwide
After the statement
The spokesperson adds that ICE is not slowing down and says Mamdani should be grateful to law enforcement officers for cleaning up the city's streets.
Mamdani threatens to sue ICE over reported use of NYC park lots as staging grounds · amNewYorkFull articleWhy this label?
The reference point is ICE agents' reported use of unstaffed New York City-owned parking lots in the Bronx and Queens to stage immigration enforcement operations. DHS says that use is fully authorized under federal law and standard practice, which defends it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(6)
Original text
Letter from Mayor Zohran Mamdani to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE officials on city-owned lots
Relevant passage: Full letter, one page
About this source
Mamdani tells Mullin, acting ICE Director David J. Venturella and New York field office director Kenneth Genalo that ICE's reported use of unstaffed city-owned lots at Van Cortlandt Park and along 111th Street in Queens is unauthorized and illegal, asks them to issue guidance barring agents from using city lots, and says the city will take legal action if the use continues.
- Author
- Office of the Mayor of the City of New York
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Letter from Mayor Zohran Mamdani to the owners and operators of parking garages and lots in New York City
Relevant passage: Full letter
About this source
Mamdani asks private garage and lot owners not to rent, lend or otherwise make their property available to ICE as a staging area, citing the October 8 Marble Hill shooting and other private lots ICE has used.
- Author
- Office of the Mayor of the City of New York
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Executive Order No. 13: Protecting New Yorkers from Abusive Immigration Enforcement
Relevant passage: Full executive order
About this source
Mamdani's February 6, 2026 executive order on immigration enforcement, which notes that city law bars non-local law enforcement from non-public areas of city property without a judicial warrant and directs city agencies on access to city property.
- Author
- Office of the Mayor of the City of New York
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Mamdani threatens lawsuit against ICE for allegedly using NYC property for operations
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
The National News Desk reports on the letter, quotes from it, and recalls Mamdani's October letter asking private parking lot owners to keep ICE off their property.
- Author
- Natalia Mittelstadt
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Mamdani threatens to sue ICE over reported use of NYC park lots as staging grounds
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
amNewYork reports on the letter and the Parks policy, quotes Mamdani and Corporation Counsel Steven Banks, and prints a DHS spokesperson's statement that ICE's presence in public parking lots is authorized under federal law.
- Author
- Adam Daly
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Mayor Mamdani demands ICE stop unauthorized use of city lots
Relevant passage: Full news release
About this source
The mayor's office announces the letter and a new NYC Parks policy for workers who encounter non-local law enforcement, and prints statements from Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, Corporation Counsel Steven Banks and other officials and advocates.
- Author
- Office of the Mayor of the City of New York
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Mamdani tells DHS to keep ICE out of city-owned parking lots or face a lawsuit; DHS says the use is legal
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/mamdani-ice-city-owned-parking-lots-lawsuit-threat
The Dispute Index. "Mamdani tells DHS to keep ICE out of city-owned parking lots or face a lawsuit; DHS says the use is legal". First published: 2026-11-09. Last updated: 2026-11-09. https://disputeindex.com/cases/mamdani-ice-city-owned-parking-lots-lawsuit-threat