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Zohran Mamdani pledges to block ICE deployment at NYC polling stations ahead of midterms

Zohran Mamdani also claimed that Republicans are utilizing the ICE agents for all the 'functions of the government' that they are not able to fund

BY SHIBRA ARSHAD

PUBLISHED APR 20, 2026

Zohran Mamdani said deploying ICE at polling stations reflects a vision where democracy is something meant to be suppressed (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Ahead of the midterms scheduled later this year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani pledged to block the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at polling stations in New York City. His statement came during an interview with NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, April 19.

Zohran Mamdani 'will do everything in my power to ensure' ICE isn't present

Replying to a question about what he would do if ICE agents show up at polling stations in New York City for midterms likely to take place in November, Mamdani said, "I will do everything in my power to ensure that is not the case."

"I think it speaks to a vision of this country where democracy is something to be suppressed, as opposed to something to be protected," he added.

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani is seen during his public inauguration ceremony followed by a block party at City Hall on January 01, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by BG048/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is seen during his public inauguration ceremony, followed by a block party at City Hall on January 1, 2026, in New York City (BG048/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

Mamdani said that Republicans are utilizing the ICE agents for all the “functions of the government” that they are not able to fund.

"I think that what we are seeing time and time again is an attempt to utilize ICE for all of the other functions of government that Republicans are unable to fund because they don't want to ensure that these kinds of quality of services continue across the country," he remarked.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 13: ICE agents approach a house before detaining two people on January 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trump administration has deployed over 2,400 Department of Homeland Security agents to the state of Minnesota in a push to apprehend undocumented immigrants. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) — ICE agents approach a house before detaining two people on January 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Zohran Mamdani says he raised ICE issue before Trump

During the interview, Mamdani was also asked if he raised the ICE deployment concern before President Donald Trump.

Mamdani replied, "I've said to the president, ICE has nothing to do with elections. I've said to him time and time again that ICE is a cruel and inhumane agency, and that here in New York City, we are focused on delivering public safety. I talk about affordability every single day."

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (L) during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on November 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the two political opponents met to discuss policies for New York City, including affordability, public safety, and immigration enforcement. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) — President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on November 21, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

To be sure, recently, Mamdani said that he has “an honest, direct and productive” relationship with President Trump.

Zohran Mamdani opens up about his conversations with Trump

Further speaking about his relatively good relationship with Trump, Mamdani said that he has something special that no one else has, and hence, he is lucky. And the special thing is that both of them are from New York City.

The NYC mayor said, "We're both from this same city. And it means that our conversations are not just of the scale that is typical with the president, but also granular about even the things as specific as zoning law changes in Midtown Manhattan."