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DHS flays Mamdani over calls to abolish ICE
Mamdani's comments came after border czar Tom Homan warned of a larger federal immigration enforcement presence in New York City.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 15, Jun 2026
- 18:00 EDT
- 49
Zohran Mamdani / Wikimedia commons
The Department of Homeland Security criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he renewed calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mamdani's comments came after border czar Tom Homan warned of an expanded federal immigration enforcement presence in New York City.
Also Read: NYC Mayor Mamdani announces heat safety initiative amid rising temp
"To be very clear about the fact that I believe that ICE raids are cruel, they are inhumane, they do nothing to serve in the interest of public safety," Mamdani said at a June 14 press conference. "I also do believe that ICE as an entity is one that should be abolished and that we should return to an immigration system that has more humanity."
In a series of posts on X, DHS accused Mamdani of continuing to "smear ICE law enforcement" and rejected his criticism of the agency.
.@NYCMayor continues to smear ICE law enforcement and claim that arresting heinous criminals doesn’t help public safety.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 15, 2026
As he slanders our heroic @ICEgov agents, Mamdani continues releasing heinous criminals from jails onto the streets of New York to perpetrate more crimes and… https://t.co/FyU9mH2IZN pic.twitter.com/vTJ25AJFEb
The department said ICE officers would continue carrying out enforcement operations and argued that arrests of individuals accused of crimes including murder, rape, child sexual abuse and assault are essential to public safety.
DHS also alleged that sanctuary-city policies supported by Mamdani allow criminal undocumented immigrants to be released from local custody rather than transferred to federal authorities. The agency said such policies create additional victims and undermine public safety.
The criticism was echoed by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who said during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity" that Mamdani was "absolutely destroying a great city." Mullin's remarks came a day after the mayor reiterated his support for abolishing ICE.
Former acting ICE director Jonathan Fahey also criticized Mamdani's position, arguing that eliminating ICE would make communities less safe.
Fahey said the agency plays a critical role in identifying, detaining and removing individuals accused or convicted of crimes and warned that sanctuary-city policies place financial and public-safety burdens on local governments.
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