New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video in Spanish on Friday that gives specific instructions on how to avoid federal immigration agents. The New York Post reports the mayor spent ninety seconds telling viewers exactly what to say when they meet ICE officers. He urged people to ask if they are free to go and to never sign papers without a lawyer present.
The public was told by Mamdani that agents lack legal authority to enter private spaces absent a judicial order. He instructed viewers to look for the words “United States District Court” and a judge’s signature on any document presented to them. The mayor also suggested asking agents to “pass the order under the door” if they try to enter a home. This guidance came after Mamdani criticized the shooting of an undocumented immigrant earlier this month.
Republican leaders condemned the video immediately after it was posted online. Florida’s Sen. Rick Scott labeled the clip “Unbelievable” and asserted the mayor is “openly helping illegal aliens evade [ICE] and undermine the law”. Sen. Mike Lee from Utah wrote that the video urges no one to abide by United States laws. Rep. Nick LaLota from New York argued the mayor used taxpayer resources to teach people how to dodge accountability.
Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio gave a one-word response to the situation, calling it “Treason.” The Washington Examiner noted that Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton posted that the statement was “Dangerous incitement full of disturbing falsehoods.” Fitton added that the video “could put lives in danger.” These lawmakers argue the mayor is actively working against federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Mamdani has long called for the abolition of ICE. He renewed these demands earlier this month after federal agents shot Oscar Belgal in the neck in Manhattan. Officials say Belgal had two prior arrests and is connected to a local gang. The Washington Examiner reported that Belgal survived the shooting and was treated at a hospital before being sent to a detention facility.
The mayor compared the officer who shot Belgal to a “mass shooter” because he was wearing plain clothes. Mamdani claimed there was “no reasonable way to identify them as ICE agents” since they wore construction vests and masks. He has since urged parking garage owners to block ICE from using their lots as staging areas for operations. This request was backed by Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Belgal is an illegal immigrant possessing a criminal record. Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the man was charged with felony robbery and drug possession. Mullin said Belgal “weaponized his car” by trying to drive into officers before being struck in the neck. The mayor continues to demand that President Donald Trump end all ICE operations in New York City.
While the mayor’s video focuses on legal rights, other stories have emerged about perceived racial bias. Patricia Krentcil, known as “Tan Mom,” told a podcast she was stopped by ICE agents because her skin is dark. She claimed they asked if she was an American citizen and nearly handcuffed her. Krentcil noted, “Because I was so tan they were about to handcuff me and take me away to God knows where”.
She added that once you get in those trucks, “you don’t know where you’re going anymore.” Krentcil called the agents “very racist about color and nationality” and slammed President Trump for supporting “all this nonsense.” ICE has previously denied engaging in unconstitutional racial profiling during enforcement operations. The mayor’s office has not commented on Krentcil’s specific claims about her personal encounter.
The video Mamdani posted ends with a pledge to protect the right to protest. He proclaimed, “As your mayor, I will fight every day to protect, support, and celebrate our communities”. This promise stands in direct opposition to the stance taken by federal officials and Republican lawmakers who view his actions as obstruction. The debate over the video’s legality and impact on public safety continues to unfold.
