Fact Check: Did Zohran Mamdani ban ICE from entering New York City properties?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A claim has been going viral on social media platforms that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has banned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from entering city-owned properties. The claim has triggered strong reactions as it comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding ICE raids and the agency's overall conduct. Let us fact-check the claim.
Claim: Zohran Mamdani has banned ICE from entering NYC properties
According to the viral claim, Mamdani has banned ICE from entering the properties of New York City.
The claim comes amid controversies surrounding President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and aggressive ICE raids, which have been linked to the deaths of two Minnesota residents earlier this year.
The claim that surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) and has garnered more than three million views has triggered mixed reactions from online users, with many expressing support for the alleged decision, while a few others condemned it, accusing the mayor of having an immigrant-friendly approach.
Meanwhile, a few others remained skeptical and questioned the authenticity of the viral claim.
Fact Check: Partially true
The claim is partially true. While Mamdani did not "ban" ICE from entering NYC properties, he did sign an executive order on the city's sanctuary laws in February in an effort to strengthen protections for immigrant New Yorkers and the public safety of all New Yorkers.
The order includes a prohibition on ICE entering NYC properties, including schools, shelters, hospitals, and parking lots, without a judicial warrant.
The mayor will also create a new task force to handle matters related to ICE and immigration.
Zohran Mamdani calls to abolish ICE
Recently, Mamdani raised the issue of ICE during an appearance on MS NOW's 'The Weekend' while discussing ongoing protests outside the ICE detention facility known as Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey.
“This is partially why I have put forward a vision alongside so many others to say that ICE should be abolished, that there is no way to reform this kind of cruelty that we’re seeing endemic in the way that immigration is being enforced across the country,” he said.
“When it comes to our city, we are proud of our sanctuary city policies. We are proud of the policies we’ve put forward and also the executive orders we’ve put forward to ensure that every single agency is complying with those policies,” the democratic socialist added.
