NYC mayor threatens legal action against ICE over parking lot use

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 06:23 · Archive

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has threatened legal action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the agency's reported use of city-owned parking lots to stage immigration operations without authorisation. In a letter addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and other ICE officials, Mamdani said he is 'deeply troubled' by the reports and warned that if the use continues, the city will take legal action to prevent what he called the 'unlawful commandeering of City property'.

According to the mayor's letter, ICE agents have reportedly parked vehicles and conducted meetings in several city-owned, unstaffed parking lots. The locations cited include a parking lot at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and parking lots along 111th Street on the west side of Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. Mamdani noted that the Queens location is situated next to a city-run preschool and several cultural institutions.

Mamdani stated that ICE 'has not secured any authorization from the City to use these lots for immigration enforcement' and made clear that 'the City does not authorize ICE using its property in this manner'. He added that parking lots connected to city parks are reserved for the safe use and enjoyment of New Yorkers and visitors.

At a press conference in Brooklyn on Monday, Mamdani said that 'too often is ICE flouting those directives and those laws'. He told reporters that 'this letter makes very clear that ICE has no right to use any city property or lots for anti-immigrant operations, and that we are willing to go to court if they continue to do so'.

New York City has been a sanctuary city for immigrants since Mayor Ed Koch's administration in 1989. Mamdani has previously called on owners of garages across the city to stop allowing ICE to use their property to stage operations.

How it is being reported

• Mamdani threatens to sue Trump admin over ICE's use of city-owned lots for immigration enforcementNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani threatened legal action against ICE over agents allegedly staging immigration enforcement operations in city-owned parking lots.Fox News · 3 Nov, 04:58
• Mamdani threatens to sue Trump admin over ICE’s ‘unlawful commandeering’ of NYC-owned properties for raidsMamdani said at an unrelated press conference in Brooklyn Monday morning that “too often is ICE flouting those directives and those laws.”New York Post · 2 Nov, 16:13
• Mamdani threatens ICE with legal action over use of New York parking lotsLetter from mayor tells federal agents to stay out of city-owned facilities for immigration operations Mayor Zohran Mamdani has threatened to take legal action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement over allegations the agency’s officers at the agency are using parking lots owned by New York City for operations in the area. In a letter to the Trump administration, Mamdani noted the agency’s use of property owned by the city was “unauthorized and is therefore illegal, endangers City residents, and sows fear among those who seek to access City property”. Continue reading...Guardian World · 2 Nov, 12:56

In this story: Zohran Mamdani · Immigration and Customs Enforcement · New York City · Van Cortlandt Park · Flushing Meadows Corona Park · Trump administration

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log