New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at Grand Army Plaza in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., January 2, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
(New York, NY) – Following the shooting death of a 37-year-old mom from Minneapolis, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is condemning the actions of immigration enforcement officers. Renee Nicole Brown was killed by an ICE agent who opened fire on her vehicle in a shooting caught on camera. The shooting immediately spurred protests across the country, including one in Foley Square.
Mayor Mamdani spoke out against the shooting on Wednesday evening, just hours after the incident. “The news coming out of Minneapolis is horrific. This is one part that has been a year full of cruelty, and we know that when ICE agents attack immigrants, they attack every one of us across this country,” he said. “This is a city and will always be a city that stands up for immigrants across the five boroughs. I have made it clear to everyone in my city government, and that includes NYPD that we are going to uphold sanctuary city policies. We are going to adhere to them.”
Other local lawmakers echoed similar sentiments. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed ICE as a whole. “What we saw today was a manifestation of every American’s worst nightmare.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries went after the head of ICE, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, calling her a “stone-cold liar” with “zero credibility”. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the neighborhood ICE patrols as “only creating chaos and costing lives”, likening them to an “occupying force”.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are still trying to pass the MELT Act locally. It stands for “Mandating End of Lawless Tactics” and bans ICE agents from wearing identity-concealing masks. Officers in violation of the law would face misdemeanor charges. There is also the RADAR Act, which creates an online database of ICE activity across the Empire State. On Thursday, Assemblyman Tony Simone held a press conference calling for immediate passage of MELT and RADAR, along with State Senator Andrew Gounardes’ New York for All Act. New York State Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins signalled a possible vote on the New York for All Act during the current legislative session.
