New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts during his inauguration ceremony in New York City, U.S., January 1, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
(New York, New York) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pushing back against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at airports, as a viral video appears to show agents assisting travelers inside crowded TSA lines.
“Ice doesn’t belong at our airports,” Mamdani wrote in a social media post, signaling opposition to the federal government’s recent move to deploy ICE personnel to assist with airport operations.
The comments come as a widely shared video shows ICE agents handing out water to passengers waiting in long security lines, part of what officials describe as support roles amid ongoing staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Federal authorities have said ICE agents are not conducting security screenings, but are instead helping with crowd management and passenger assistance to ease congestion at busy airports.
The deployment follows weeks of travel disruptions and long wait times tied to staffing issues and increased demand, prompting the federal government to bring in additional personnel.
Supporters of the move argue the added presence is helping improve conditions for travelers, pointing to scenes like those in the viral video.
Critics, including Mamdani, say ICE’s involvement raises broader concerns about the role of immigration enforcement at transportation hubs.
The situation highlights a growing divide between local leaders and federal authorities over how to handle airport operations and immigration-related policies, as travel demand continues to surge.
