New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, has issued a formal warning to the Trump administration, stating that the city intends to sue if Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to use municipal properties for its operations. The dispute centers on reports that ICE agents have utilized city-owned parking lots to stage enforcement activities without obtaining the necessary authorization from local officials.
In a letter dated November 2026, addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, acting ICE Director David Venturella, and ICE New York Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo, Mayor Mamdani expressed his concern over the federal agency's actions. He described the situation as deeply troubling, arguing that the use of city property for federal immigration enforcement is both unauthorized and illegal. The mayor claimed that these actions endanger residents and create an atmosphere of fear among those who use city facilities.
Mamdani specifically cited several locations where ICE activity has been reported. These include a parking lot at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and lots along 111th Street on the west side of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The mayor highlighted that the Queens location is situated next to a city-run preschool and various cultural institutions that host hundreds of children and families daily, making the presence of federal agents particularly significant for the local community.
The mayor emphasized that the city has not granted any permission for these parking lots to be used for immigration purposes. He stated that lots connected to city parks are intended for the safe enjoyment of New Yorkers and visitors. Consequently, he argued that using them for other purposes, such as staging ICE operations, constitutes unauthorized activity on municipal property. He demanded that the department issue immediate guidance to its agents prohibiting such use of city lots.
Mamdani reiterated the city's commitment to its immigrant communities, noting that New York City values these residents and will continue to use all lawful means to ensure their safety and well-being. He stressed the importance of allowing residents to navigate the city and access its resources without fear of federal intervention on city-owned grounds.
This latest move follows a series of actions taken by Mamdani and other New York Democratic leaders in October. At that time, they urged private parking lot owners to prevent ICE from using their properties as staging areas. In a separate letter to property operators, the mayor asked them to refrain from renting or lending their spaces to the agency in solidarity with immigrant New Yorkers.
The push for stricter boundaries on ICE access received broad support from prominent political figures. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York, signed the October letter. In total, more than 100 elected officials joined the mayor in this request to limit the agency's footprint in private and public spaces.
The tension between the city and the federal agency has been building for months. Mamdani has previously advocated for the abolition of ICE, a stance he reinforced following two high-profile incidents involving the agency. In July, an ICE agent shot and killed Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. More recently, in October, another agent shot and wounded Dominican national Oscar Belgal during an enforcement operation in New York City.
The Department of Homeland Security has been contacted for comment regarding the mayor's letter and the threat of legal action. As the city prepares for potential litigation, the issue highlights the ongoing friction between local municipal authority and federal immigration enforcement powers in New York.
