NYC mayor‑elect issues ICE rights guidance
New York City mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani on Sunday released a video advising New Yorkers on their rights during ICE encounters, saying agents cannot enter private spaces without a judicial warrant and that residents may refuse entry, remain silent, and legally film as long as they do not interfere. Framing the message after a recent attempted ICE raid in Manhattan, he pledged to protect immigrants and New Yorkers’ right to protest, and reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary‑policy posture despite a November meeting with President Trump.
📌 Key Facts
- Video released Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, following an attempted ICE raid in Manhattan
- Guidance: no entry without a judicial warrant; residents can refuse consent, remain silent, and film encounters without interfering
- Mamdani pledged to safeguard protest rights and reaffirmed NYC’s sanctuary policies despite a recent Oval Office meeting with President Trump
📊 Relevant Data
New York City's immigrant population is approximately 3 million, representing 37% of the city's total population as of 2023.
2024 ANNUAL REPORT ON NEW YORK CITY'S IMMIGRANT POPULATION & INITIATIVES — NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
New York City has an estimated 600,000 undocumented immigrants, with the number having declined prior to 2022 but potentially rebounding with recent migration.
New York has more than 600k undocumented immigrants, data shows. Who are they? — Gothamist
Immigrants in the United States commit crimes at lower rates than the U.S.-born population, according to multiple studies from 2020-2025.
Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Undocumented immigrants are significantly less likely than U.S. citizens to engage in property crime, violent crime, and drug use.
Immigration Status and Crime: A Comparison Between Hispanic Undocumented Immigrants and U.S. Citizens — Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Cities with higher immigrant populations tend to have lower crime rates, due to immigrants creating strong social networks and revitalizing communities.
Sociological Research Reveals How Immigrants Can Reduce Crime — American Sociological Association
After the proliferation of sanctuary practices around 2014, both property crime and violent crime decreased more in sanctuary counties than non-sanctuary counties.
Do sanctuary policies increase crime? Contrary evidence from a county-level investigation in the United States — ScienceDirect