Zohran Mamdani backs ‘abolishing ICE’ as he claims the agency is ‘terrorizing people’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has voiced support for the total abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, asserting that the agency is "terrorizing people" under Donald Trump’s leadership.

While Mamdani calls for the abolition of ICE, President Donald Trump continues to stand by the agency, calling its officers patriots who are essential to maintaining record-low crime statistics across the country. 

Zohran Mamdani backs abolishing ICE

While appearing on 'The View' on Tuesday, January 20, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin asked Zohran Mamdani whether he believed “that ICE has any legitimate law enforcement role?” 

She also referenced the recent death of Renee Good, which has sparked renewed calls from Democrats to dismantle the agency. Mamdani responded directly, stating, “You know, I am in support of abolishing ICE.”

The remark drew loud applause from the audience, prompting Mamdani to pause briefly before explaining his reasoning.

Zohran Mamdani criticizes ICE enforcement tactics

Zohran Mamdani argued that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has failed to meet its basic responsibilities and instead relies on intimidation.

He said, "What we see is an entity that has no interest in fulfilling its stated reason to exist. We’re seeing a government agency that is supposed to be enforcing some kind of immigration law but instead what it’s doing is terrorizing people, no matter their immigration status, no matter the facts of the law, no matter the facts of the case.”

He added, “And I’m tired of waking up every day and seeing a new image of someone being dragged out of a car, dragged out of their home, dragged out of their life."

He emphasized that the agency’s current actions lack "humanity."

Trump stands with ‘patriot’ agents while lawmakers demand abolition of ICE

Mamdani’s position aligns with other Democratic leaders, including Rep Shri Thanedar, who recently introduced a bill to abolish the agency, and Rep Ayanna Pressley, who has said ICE “cannot be reformed.”

Mamdani added, “There is a way to care about immigration in this city and in this country with a sense of humanity. What we’re seeing from ICE is not it, and we have not seen that from them in a long, long time.”

In contrast, President Donald Trump strongly defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s record, claiming crime statistics are the "BEST EVER RECORDED" because of the agency’s work.

Trump urged the public to stand by the agency, stating, “The people will start supporting the Patriots of ICE, instead of the highly paid troublemakers, anarchists, and agitators!”