New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez released a Spanish‑language video urging all parents, regardless of immigration status, to enroll children in free 3‑K and Pre‑K programs. They highlighted a multilingual registration line offering help in more than 200 languages and said children who apply before the deadline will be guaranteed placement. Mamdani cited childcare costs as high as $26,000 per child per year and framed the effort as part of a push for universal childcare. The outreach arrives amid scrutiny of Mamdani's large $127 billion budget proposal and questions about fiscal priorities.
AOC and NYC Mayor Urge All Parents — Regardless of Immigration Status — to Enroll Kids in Free Pre‑K
Then New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani holds hands with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., at the end of a campaign rally at Forest Hills Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City on October 26, 2025.(Getty Images)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez released a Spanish‑language informational video encouraging all New York parents, regardless of immigration status, to register their children for the city's free 3‑K and Pre‑K programs.
Key Messages From the Video
In the clip, Ocasio‑Cortez stresses that "any New York City parent, regardless of your occupation, income or immigration status, is eligible to sign their child up." She adds that the application process has been simplified to make enrollment easier for every family.
In front of a painting of Alexander Hamilton, Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters about the city's finances during a news conference in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
Mamdani also highlights the financial strain many families face, saying New Yorkers have paid as much as $26,000 per child annually for childcare. He framed the outreach as part of a broader push for universal childcare and told viewers that children who apply before the deadline will be guaranteed a 3‑K or Pre‑K placement.
Practical Support for Families
- Multilingual registration help: a hotline and services in more than 200 languages.
- Streamlined application process aimed at reducing paperwork and barriers to enrollment.
- Deadline-driven guarantees for placement in the city's early education programs.
Political Context and Reaction
The outreach comes as critics question Mayor Mamdani's ability to deliver on sweeping promises after he proposed a large budget. Commentators, including CNN host Fareed Zakaria, have warned that big spending commitments without clear fiscal plans could be problematic; Zakaria noted that the mayor's proposed $127 billion budget is comparable in scale to the annual expenditures of some mid‑sized countries.
"New York is really a prime example of a problem Democrats seem unwilling to confront," the commentator said, criticizing spending and long‑term fiscal assumptions.
Requests for comment to the offices of Ocasio‑Cortez and Mamdani were not immediately returned. Despite debate over budget priorities, the officials' multilingual outreach aims to ensure immigrant and non‑English‑speaking families know about and can access free early education programs.
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