New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a Spanish-language video coaching immigrants on how to turn away ICE agents, and Republicans say he is helping illegal aliens evade the law.
Story Snapshot
- Mamdani told viewers they can keep the door shut on ICE unless agents show a warrant signed by a judge.
- He told people stopped on the street to stay silent, ask “Am I free to go?” and walk away if the answer is yes.
- Sen. Rick Scott said the mayor is “openly helping illegal aliens evade” ICE.
- No response from Mamdani’s office to the criticism has been reported.
- Some conservative commentators called the video “sedition” and said the mayor should be charged.
What Mamdani Told Immigrants
On Friday, October 23, Mamdani posted the video on social media, speaking in Spanish with English subtitles. “If you encounter ICE, these are your rights,” he began, and he told immigrants they are not alone. Mamdani, a Democrat, took office as mayor in January and has pledged to defend the city’s sanctuary laws. Those are rules that limit how much city workers help federal immigration agents. The video came during a month of federal immigration operations in the city, including a shooting by an ICE officer during an operation in the Bronx on October 8.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared a Spanish-language video explaining what residents can do during encounters with ICE.
The video advises people to remain calm, refuse consent to entry, avoid answering questions without a lawyer, and contact a confidential hotline.
Critics argue… pic.twitter.com/6tOOoFrchF
— TWT UNLEASHED (@TWT_UNLEASHED) October 24, 2026
The heart of the video is about doors. Mamdani said ICE cannot legally enter private spaces such as homes, hospitals, churches and private work areas without a judicial warrant. That is a warrant signed by a judge, not only a form signed by an immigration officer. He told viewers to look for the words “United States District Court” and a judge’s signature, and to ask agents to slide the paper under the door. Without that warrant, he said, people can keep the door closed and say they do not consent to entry.
What He Said About Street Stops
Mamdani told viewers they have the right to stay silent. If ICE stops them on the street, he said, they can ask, “Am I free to go?” If the agent says yes, they can walk away calmly. He also told people to talk to a lawyer before they sign any papers or make any decision about their immigration case, and he pointed them to the city’s legal help phone lines. He closed by saying the Constitution protects the right to protest and that he would protect it.
Republicans Call It A Guide To Evading ICE
Critics shared the clip widely on X, and Republicans hit back the same day. “Unbelievable,” Sen. Rick Scott of Florida wrote. “The Mayor of New York is openly helping illegal aliens evade @ICEgov and undermine the law.” Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican from Long Island, wrote that “NYC is becoming more like Paris every day” and said the mayor was using taxpayer resources to teach illegal immigrants how to evade accountability.
Sen. Mike Lee of Utah zeroed in on what the video left out. “At no point in this video is anyone urged to abide by the laws of the United States,” he said. Some conservative commentators went further, calling the video “sedition” and saying the mayor should be charged. No federal action against the mayor over the video has been reported.
Where The Law Stands
Much of what Mamdani said tracks the “know your rights” guides that legal groups have handed out for years. Those guides say agents generally need either a judge’s warrant or a person’s consent to enter a private home or the non-public part of a workplace. Critics say the problem is the message, not the fine print. A mayor, they argue, is using a city platform to show people how to avoid federal officers rather than urging them to follow federal law.
The fight is the latest in a long clash between New York’s sanctuary policies and President Trump’s immigration enforcement. The White House has pressed sanctuary cities to cooperate with ICE, and ICE operations in New York have continued through the month. Mamdani’s video makes clear the city’s top official intends to keep pushing the other way.
Sources:
mediaite.com, breitbart.com, eldiariony.com, elpais.com
