New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has threatened to sue the Trump administration over the alleged “unlawful commandeering” of city-owned property by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration operations. Mamdani sent a letter to US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stating that the city does not authorize ICE's use of its property for such purposes.
According to the letter, ICE agents have reportedly parked vehicles and conducted meetings in several city-owned, unstaffed parking lots. Specific locations mentioned include a parking lot at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and parking lots along 111th Street in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The latter location is noted to be adjacent to a city-run preschool and cultural institutions frequented by children.
Mamdani stated at a press conference that ICE has been “flouting” directives and laws by using these city properties. He emphasized that the city is prepared to pursue legal action if this practice continues. This threat follows Mamdani's previous calls for private garage owners across the city to cease allowing ICE to use their properties for staging operations.