Zohran Mamdani responds to Trump deportation threat amid ICE policy dispute

Zohran Mamdani rejects Trump’s deportation warning

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, addressed threats made by President Donald Trump, who suggested Mamdani could be deported for refusing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Speaking on Tuesday, Mamdani said Trump’s remarks constituted an attack on democratic norms and an effort to silence dissent.

“The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp and deported. Not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorize our city,” Mamdani stated.


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“His statements don’t just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: if you speak up, they will come for you. We will not accept this intimidation,” he continued.

Mamdani, 33, was born in Uganda to Indian parents and became a naturalized US citizen in 2018. He currently serves as a New York State Assembly member representing parts of Queens.

ICE noncooperation and political fallout

Trump’s remarks came during a visit to a migrant detention facility in Florida, where he criticized Mamdani’s stance on noncooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Trump labeled Mamdani a communist and stated, “Well, then we’ll have to arrest him. Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over them very carefully on behalf of the nation.”

Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist and has called for policies including universal child care, free city bus service, rent stabilization, and public grocery stores. His victory in the Democratic primary marked a significant upset, defeating former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Mamdani officially clinched the nomination on Tuesday, July 1, following the finalization of ranked-choice voting results.

Also read: Trump says 'New Yorkers would be crazy' to elect Zohran Mamdani as mayor

He has received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), positioning himself as a progressive alternative to the city’s political establishment.

Backlash, endorsements, and Islamophobia

Since his primary win, Mamdani has been the target of attacks from across the political spectrum, including Islamophobic rhetoric and unfounded doubts about his citizenship status. Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tennessee) called Mamdani “little Muhammad,” urged his deportation, and requested a Justice Department investigation into his background.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) publicly condemned Trump’s threat in a post on X: “I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States, if you threaten to unlawfully go after one of our neighbors, you’re picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers — starting with me.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) also apologized to Mamdani in a phone call for her recent public remarks. On a radio program, Gillibrand had said Mamdani should renounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which she said concerned Jewish constituents.

Also read: Zohran Mamdani wins New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, defeating ex-Gov Andrew Cuomo

Mamdani criticized Mayor Eric Adams, who opted to run as an independent, for aligning politically with Trump. “At the very moment when MAGA Republicans are attempting to destroy the social safety net, kick millions of New Yorkers off of health care and enrich their billionaire donors at the expense of working families, it is a scandal that Eric Adams echoes this President’s division, distraction and hate. Voters will resoundingly reject it in November,” Mamdani said.