New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated that he directly told President Donald Trump that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency should be abolished.
Mamdani, speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone, described his relationship with Trump as "honest" and "direct," even as they maintain significant policy disagreements.
"I've spoken to him directly about how I think of ICE as a cruel agency that does nothing to serve the interests of public safety," Mamdani said. "And I've spoken about how I think that ICE should be abolished. We should have an immigration system that has humanity at the heart of it."
The mayor's comments came after a widely noted meeting with Trump at the White House. Despite months of critical rhetoric from both sides, the meeting was described by observers as surprisingly cordial. Mamdani noted that their shared love for New York City formed a basis for their conversation, which also touched on topics like community boards and zoning laws.
Mamdani’s direct criticism of ICE to the President highlights a significant policy divide between the current administration and the mayor of one of the nation's largest cities. He reiterated his stance that the agency does not contribute to public safety and advocated for a more humane immigration system.