Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirms undocumented children included in NYC's universal daycare program

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced that all the city's children, whether documented or undocumented, are eligible for the free child care program.

Mamdani on Friday, January 23, said during a media roundtable discussion that the universal childcare programs are for children under five years of age across NYC. 

"These are not programs that are going to ask the immigration status of any of the children.”

Regarding his universal childcare program  across the state, 

Mamdani clarifies eligibility for universal childcare programs

Referring to undocumented children, Mamdani said, “All of those children are New Yorkers."

He added that "they should all be enrolled in pre-K and 3-K no matter where they were born and where they come from.”

The newly-elected mayor, a democratic socialist, further added that “This is one example of a city program that we are encouraging everyone to apply to, to see themselves as a part of and to know that we are going to use every single law that we have here to protect the health and safety of everyone who signs up.” 

The politician further noted that he and his government “are proud of the incredible tapestry that is New York, the beautiful mosaic, as [former Mayor] David Dinkins would speak about.”

Mamdani promises 'life of dignity' for all New Yorkers

Mamdani’s confirmation follows a January 8 announcement where he said he and New York Governor Kathy Hochul were working on a movement so that “every New Yorker could afford a life of dignity and every family could afford to raise their kids.”

He had also asserted that “when New Yorkers come together, we can transform the way the government serves working families.”

Mamdani’s comments also come against the tense backdrop of President Donald Trump’s administration doing a nationwide crackdown on immigrants, including immigrant children, in major American cities.

Trump administration detained 5-year-old in Minneapolis

Most recently, a five-year-old child, Liam Conejo Ramos, was taken to a detention facility by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in a Minneapolis suburb.

But as per Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, “ICE did NOT target a child.”

McLaughlin then blamed the child’s father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, alleging he “fled on foot – abandoning his child.”

“For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias,” she added.

But Ramos’ teacher was shocked to know about his detention as they said, “Liam is a bright young student. He is so kind and loving, and his classmates miss him. He comes into class every day and just brightens the room. All I want is for him to be back here and safe.”