New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani released a video on December 7, 2025, detailing how immigrants can interact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, stating, "New York will always welcome immigrants."The video, which has garnered over 1.2 million views on X, explains that individuals can refuse to speak with or obey ICE agents, film them, and deny them entry into private spaces without a warrant.Mamdani cautioned, "
ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent," advising to repeatedly ask, "Am I free to go?" if detained, as federal immigration enforcement operations continue under the
Donald Trump administration.