Tom Homan, a former Trump border official, says he has had no contact with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and accuses him of refusing to cooperate with ICE. Homan cited a prior arrangement under Mayor Eric Adams that would have allowed ICE access to Rikers Island but says the City Council blocked it. Governor Kristi Noem echoed concerns that DHS talks with Mamdani have been unproductive. Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond.
Former Trump Border Official Says NYC Mayor Mamdani Refuses To Cooperate With ICE
Border czar Tom Homan and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Tom Homan, a former Trump administration border official, said Tuesday he has had no communication with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and accused the newly inaugurated mayor of declining to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Homan told Fox News' America's Newsroom, “He’s made it clear he’s not going to work with ICE.” He recalled that under former Mayor Eric Adams there was an arrangement to allow ICE officers access to Rikers Island to arrest individuals considered public-safety threats while in a secure jail setting; Homan said the City Council later blocked that agreement.
Referencing a meeting last year between President Donald Trump and Mamdani, Homan said it remains unclear whether the mayor will change course and assist federal authorities in apprehending those Homan described as alleged threats to public safety. “We’ll see down the road if he’s going to help arrest public safety threats,” he added.
An ICE agent monitors hundreds of asylum seekers being processed after entering the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 6, 2023, in New York City.
“We’re not asking any NYPD to be immigration officers. We’re asking their cops to work with our cops to remove national-security threats and public-safety threats in New York City,” Homan said.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem made similar remarks last week, saying that talks between Mamdani and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been unproductive. At a news conference, Noem urged cooperation to remove criminal elements, including alleged gang members and terrorist organizations, from the city.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Since rising to prominence in last year’s mayoral race, Mamdani has urged New Yorkers to “know [their] rights” when encountering Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has publicly criticized ICE enforcement practices.
Reporting: Rachel Wolf and Bryan Llenas contributed to this story.
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