NYC Mayor Mamdani Blasts ICE Raids as Cruel After Protesters Disrupt Arrest of Nigerian Migrant

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after anti-ICE protesters tried to disrupt the arrest of an illegal immigrant accused of assault and drug possession, according to Gothamist.

Mamdani, a socialist and immigrant politician, told Gothamist on Sunday that he had not seen videos of the anti-ICE protesters at the hospital. He said, "I've said time and time again, ICE raids are cruel and inhumane." He added, "They do nothing to serve in the interest of public safety."

Nine demonstrators were detained Saturday night after protests broke out in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood over ICE's arrest of Chidozie Wilson Okeke, a Nigerian illegal immigrant with prior arrests for assault and drug possession, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Mamdani was not alone among New York City politicians in criticizing the ICE operation. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso posted on X that "ICE’s presence in Bushwick is deeply alarming." He urged followers to report federal agents, writing, "If you see ICE in your neighborhood, call or text the Hands Off NYC hotline."

Reynoso praised the demonstrators, writing, "To our neighbors who quickly mobilized last night, thank you for making it loud and clear that ICE is not welcome in Brooklyn."

Democratic state Sen. Julia Salazar, who represents Brooklyn, posted on X encouraging residents to report ICE agents’ presence. She called it "concerning" that so many New York Police Department officers were deployed for what she described as "clearly a justified gathering by local residents."

DHS said Okeke refused to comply with ICE agents' commands to exit his car and tried to hit them with the vehicle. He is accused of being "physically combative" and attempting to punch and elbow ICE agents.

"Our officers followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to make the arrest," DHS said in a statement.

After the arrest, Okeke was taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center for evaluation. DHS said Okeke "remained non-compliant during the medical evaluation, throwing himself to the floor and screaming," but was eventually cleared by medical staff.

Okeke entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2023 and overstayed it; the visa required him to leave by Feb. 26, 2024, DHS said.

Video shows ICE agents dragging Okeke out of the hospital after his evaluation. During that time, anti-ICE protesters gathered outside and damaged several ICE vehicles while assaulting agents, causing minor injuries, according to DHS.

New York City Councilmember Sandy Nurse, a Democrat, posted on X that she was among the protesters from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday night. She called the arrest a "kidnapping," writing, "We did not have any information about the person ICE had detained, although we tried many times to get information."

Nurse said ICE transported Okeke back to federal vehicles through coordination with the NYPD and departed. She thanked New Yorkers "who dropped everything and showed up to demand ICE out of our neighborhood" and encouraged reporting ICE agents.

Mamdani has previously said on ABC’s The View, "I am in support of abolishing ICE." He continued, "What we see is an entity that has no interest in fulfilling its stated reason to exist. We’re seeing a government agency that is supposed to be enforcing some kind of immigration law, but instead what it’s doing is terrorizing people — no matter their immigration status, no matter the facts of the law, no matter the facts of the case."

Of the nine people detained Saturday night, eight were arrested and charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief, the NYPD said. One received a summons and was released.