New York Mayor Zohram Mamdani blasted the Trump administration’s plan to increase the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the city as part of the government’s anti-immigration initiative.
In response to a report on the controversial project, Mamdani vowed to stand with immigrants, saying, “We will not allow ICE or anyone else to sow fear in our communities.”
New York’s first-ever Muslim mayor credited immigrants for the development and progress of soccer in the United States. He said: “Football would not exist without immigrants. Immigrants play and coach the game, work in the stadiums, fill the stands and make celebrations like the World Cup possible.”
The 34-year-old social-democrat mayor highlighted the fact that six of the players on the U.S. men’s national team are immigrants.
He described the Trump administration’s plan as an attempt to divide New Yorkers, adding: “As the world turns to our city, we will be proud to stand with our immigrant neighbors and reject these attacks for what they are.” ยป
This comes after President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan announced an increase in the number of ICE agents in New York. In an interview with Fox News, Homan said, “You’re going to see more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen in New York. And it’s coming. I just went over an operational plan. I’m not going to tell you exactly when it’s going to happen, but it’s coming.”
This development is expected to increase the confrontation between the federal government and the Democratic governor of New York, Kathy Hochul. Last month, the governor signed a law banning law enforcement from wearing masks in the city.
It also prohibits local agents from engaging in civil immigration operations.
