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Bhalla backs Mamdani’s stand against ICE
While Mamdani cited The Bible, The Quran and the Torah in his speech, Bhalla highlighted that the Sikh faith also advocates for loving strangers.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Mon, 16, Feb 2026
- 00:28 EST
- 20
Ravi S Bhalla / Ravi Bhalla via X
New Jersey State Assembly member Ravi S Bhalla extended his support to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's call against federal immigration crackdown and noted that Mamdani's appeals are consistent with the teachings of Sikhism.
Mamdani, in a recent public event, quoted mulit-faith religious scriptures while announcing protection to New Yorkers from "abusive immigration enforcement".
In his address, Mamdani quoted from the Bible, the Torah and the Quran to call for "loving the stranger".
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Sharpening the attack on ICE, Mamdani said, "Across this country, day after day, we bear witness to cruelty that staggers the conscience. People ripped from their cars, guns drawn against the unarmed, families torn apart, lives shattered, quietly, swiftly, brutally.
He added, "If these are not attacks upon the stranger among us, what is? ICE is more than a rogue agency. It is a manifestation of the abuse of power. In fact, we know that there is no reforming something so rotten and so base.
Echoing Mamdani's call for 'loving the stranger', Bhalla said, "Thank you @NYCMayor Reminds me of the words of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism: “I see no stranger, I see no enemy.”
Mamdani also announced an executive order reaffirming that "ICE will not be able to enter New York City property without a judicial warrant."
Mamdani noted, "We will protect New Yorkers' private data from being unlawfully accessed by the federal government and stand firmly against any effort to intrude on our privacy."
He added, "This order mandates that essential city agencies are complying with city laws (2:47) and it will establish an interagency response committee so that in the event of a major crisis, we are ready and equipped to do the job of protecting New Yorkers."
Mamdani also called upon all religious leaders for backing and highlighted the value of their moral clarity and integrity in his campaign against federal immigration action in the city.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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