You expect a mayor to uphold the law. Instead, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video teaching people how to dodge federal immigration agents. This happened on a Friday in October. The video was in Spanish. Mamdani gave specific steps to avoid arrest.
Mamdani spoke directly to the camera. He told viewers what to do if they see agents. According to the New York Post, he said, “If you encounter ICE, these are your rights.” He then gave a clear rule. He stated that agents lack legal authority to enter private spaces without a judicial order. He listed homes, hospitals, and churches. He told people to check for a judge’s signature on any paper.
If you encounter ICE, here’s what every New Yorker should know. https://t.co/hrjL8JPLyr
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 23, 2026
The instructions did not stop there. Per Breitbart, Mamdani advised people to ask, “Am I free to go?” If the answer is yes, he said to walk away. He also told them to remain silent. He suggested they call a city legal support line. He even told people to ask agents to slide a court order under the door. These are not general rights. They are specific tactics to stop federal work.
Conservatives reacted fast. They called the video dangerous. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said it was unbelievable. He argued that the mayor is “openly helping illegal aliens evade [ICE] and undermine the law” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote that no one in the video was urged to follow US laws. Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch called it “dangerous incitement.” He said the statement could put lives in danger.
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) was furious. Mamdani faced accusations of utilizing “taxpayer resources to instruct illegals, in Spanish, how to evade accountability” LaLota compared New York City to Paris. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) offered a one-word response. He called it “Treason.” These leaders see a mayor using his office to fight federal agents.
Mamdani made these comments after a specific event. Per the Washington Examiner, he criticized the shooting of Oscar Belgal. Belgal is a Dominican national with prior arrests. Officials say he is linked to a gang. Belgal tried to run over agents with his car. An agent shot him in the neck. Belgal survived and is in a detention facility.
Treason.
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) October 23, 2026
Mamdani called the officer a “mass shooter.” He claimed the agents wore masks to hide their faces. He said they were in plainclothes. He used this event to demand ICE be abolished. He told parking lot owners to block ICE vehicles. He stated, “As your mayor, I will fight every day to protect, support, and celebrate our communities” He is asking citizens to resist federal law.
