UPDATE - Mayor Mamdani signs executive order limiting ICE access to New York City property

​​​​​​​ADDS STATEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, DETAILS

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed on Friday an executive order aimed at strengthening protections for immigrants and limiting federal immigration enforcement actions on city property.

Mamdani announced the order while speaking at an interfaith breakfast, describing it as a broad reaffirmation of the city’s commitment to immigrant communities, privacy protections, and public safety.

"I am signing an executive order that will uphold our city’s protection not just of our fellow immigrant New Yorkers — but of all New Yorkers — from abusive immigration enforcement," he said.

Under the order, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be barred from entering New York City property without a judicial warrant. The policy applies to city-run facilities, including schools, shelters, hospitals, and parking lots.

"We will make clear that ICE will not be able to enter New York City property without a judicial warrant. That means our schools, our shelters, our hospitals, our parking lots," Mamdani said.

The executive order also seeks to strengthen safeguards around personal data, prohibiting unlawful access by the federal government.

Mamdani said the measure is intended to ensure residents feel safe accessing city services regardless of immigration status.

"No New Yorker should be afraid to apply for city services like child care because they are an immigrant," he added.

In addition, the order mandates that key city agencies comply with existing city laws governing interactions with immigration authorities and requires comprehensive audits of agency policies related to immigration enforcement.

- 'These are policies that are motivated by delivering public safety'

The mayor said the order will also establish an Interagency Response Committee to coordinate citywide actions during major crises involving immigration enforcement. The committee would serve as a centralized mechanism to align policy and communication across agencies.

"So that government speaks with one voice in times of need," he said.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) condemned Mamdani for signing the executive order and turning the city "into a shield for violent criminal illegal aliens to reoffend and create more innocent victims."

"Mamdani will make New Yorkers less safe as a direct result of this policy. There are currently 7,113 criminal illegal aliens in the custody of a New York jurisdiction with an active detainer," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

McLaughlin said that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is calling on Mamdani to allow ICE to take custody of individuals described as criminals before they are released from city jails.

When asked about his message to Noem, Mamdani said his message to "everyone is that these are policies that keep New Yorkers safe."

"These are policies that are motivated by delivering public safety, not in spite of public safety ... Safety is what we're motivated by. That's what we're going to deliver," Mamdani told reporters.