Mamdani says ICE has no right to use city property as a base for tearing families apart
Zohran MamdaniMayor of New York City, in a city news release
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.
Responding to
ICE's use of New York City-owned parking lots to stage immigration enforcement operations without the city's authorization is illegal.
“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”
Official statement
Original text
Where this statement fits
Mamdani tells DHS to keep ICE out of city-owned parking lots or face a lawsuit; DHS says the use is legal
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.
Source and context
Official statement
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Original text
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
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.
After the quotation
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.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why 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.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
More from this case
Read the full caseDHS says ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
“ICE's presence in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law and is a standard practice for law enforcement agencies nationwide”Read statement
Hochul says she is deeply disturbed by reports that ICE is using public property for enforcement operations
“I am deeply disturbed by reports that ICE is using public property to carry out aggressive immigration enforcement operations.”Read statement
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- Mamdani says ICE has no right to use city property as a base for tearing families apart
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The Dispute Index. "Mamdani says ICE has no right to use city property as a base for tearing families apart". First published: 2026-11-09. Last updated: 2026-11-09. https://disputeindex.com/events/8443-in-the-city-s-announcement-of-his-letter