New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has reportedly threatened to prosecute Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who enter the city without authorisation, warning that they would face the full force of the law.
The mayor’s office announced the measure on Monday, saying ICE agents already in the city would soon be rounded up and deported to New Jersey, where they could apply to enter New York legally.
Mamdani, whose commitment to open borders reportedly inspired the decision to restrict entry into the city, defended the move as necessary to protect undocumented immigrants from enforcement actions.
“This city wants ICE out, and I am prepared to enforce our city’s borders against them,” Mamdani said. “There must be respect for law and order as it pertains to protecting illegal aliens from being held accountable.”
The mayor also dismissed concerns about ICE agents being prevented from entering New York, arguing that they should have considered the consequences before attempting to cross the city’s borders.
“They should have thought of that before they tried to come here,” he said. “No one should be allowed to freely roam in and out of a territory without permission. I feel very strongly about that.”
President Donald Trump criticised Mamdani’s decision, describing the move as unprecedented and questioning how the city intended to prevent federal agents from entering.
“It’s not like they have a wall. I have a big, beautiful wall at the southern border. It’s a wall so high that no one can climb it. It’s impossible. Many have tried, believe me. They tried, and they failed. They failed like losers,” Trump said.
He went on to joke about New York’s geography and the possibility of ICE agents crossing the Hudson River.
“New York has a little water, I guess, but ICE agents are excellent swimmers. They can cross the Hudson pretty easily. They’re like dolphins, let me tell you. ICE dolphins, I call them. People were telling me to call them penguins. ‘Penguins live in ice!’ they said. But dolphins are smarter. Have you ever seen Flipper? Incredible show. Great ratings.”
At the time of publication, Mamdani had reportedly announced plans to redirect money allocated for free bus rides towards building a wall around New York City to keep ICE agents out.
