Zohran Mamdani defends NYC's sanctuary city status, rejects Trump's federal funding freeze threat
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Mayor Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed New York City’s status as a sanctuary city, pushing back against President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off federal funding beginning next month.
The Democratic socialist mayor said that the city would not alter its immigration policies under financial pressure from Washington.
“Our values and our laws cannot be bargaining chips,” Mamdani wrote on X on Tuesday, January 13. He added that he would “always defend the city and every single person who calls the city home,” even as the administration threatened to withhold federal dollars.
Trump sets February funding freeze
Our values and our laws are not bargaining chips. We will always defend New Yorkers, even in the face of federal threats to withhold funding. https://t.co/1vXJEZ6KP0
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 13, 2026
Mamdani’s response followed President Trump’s announcement on Tuesday that, starting February 1, the federal government would halt payments to cities and states that maintained sanctuary policies. Trump specifically named New York and New York City.
The president argued that such jurisdictions “do everything possible to protect criminals.” Sanctuary policies generally limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including declining to hold individuals for ICE without a judicial warrant.
City leaders said that the measures were designed to protect immigrant communities and encourage cooperation with local law enforcement. The White House had framed those policies as barriers to its deportation efforts.
Mamdani-Trump relationship strained by funding dispute
The dispute placed strain on an otherwise reportedly cordial relationship between Mamdani and Trump. The two reportedly maintained regular contact since Mamdani took office, with aides confirming that they typically exchanged messages several times a month.
That connection was forged during a White House meeting in November, where both leaders avoided public confrontation. Mamdani said that he had contacted Trump on Tuesday night to express “sharp opposition” to the funding threat but had not received a reply.
“I have yet to hear back from the president,” Mamdani said. Speaking at an unrelated event at a child care center in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, he confirmed again on Wednesday that, “We haven’t yet connected.”
Zohran Mamdani confident NYC can fight back
Despite the lack of response, Mamdani said that he was confident that the city could withstand federal pressure.
Asked how New York would respond if funds were cut, he pointed to past disputes with Washington and ongoing litigation over immigration authority.
“There are many threats that are made to New York City on a regular basis, and I am confident in our city’s ability to fight those threats back,” he said. “We’ve also seen, whether it be in the ports or beyond that, our ability to win those threats.”
City officials did not release estimates on how much federal funding could be affected or which programs would face the greatest impact if the administration followed through.
