Mamdani: NYPD did not coordinate with ICE, as leaders rally in Bushwick following violent protests, arrest
New York's sanctuary city laws bar city agencies from assisting in civil immigration operations in most cases. Mamdani says his administration will be examining the city's protocols when it comes to responding during an ICE operation in the city.
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday that the NYPD did not coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement as dozens of community members and elected officials rallied outside of Wyckoff Hospital, following several arrests at anti-ICE demonstrations over the weekend.
Video showed the clash between community members and law enforcement on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, as hundreds showed up to protest against ICE at the hospital.
The NYPD said eight people were arrested and one person received a summon.
In a statement, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the ICE enforcement operation targeted the arrest of Chidozie Wilson Okeke, of Nigeria, who entered the U.S. on a visa in 2023, which expired in 2024. The spokesperson added that the detainee has a history of assault and criminal drug possession.
Witnesses told News 12 that NYPD assaulted demonstrators.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said NYPD officers opened and closed hospital doors for ICE agents and assisted as ICE left the hospital.
“None of this happens if ICE doesn’t show up to New York City, which is part of the problem,” Reynoso said. “Every single time ICE shows up, they’re making people more unsafe. There are people that don’t want to go into this hospital now that are in fear of whether or not they’re going to get deported. NYPD has to make sure that they’re keeping the crowd at bay and that they’re doing their job, but what they don’t do is help ICE.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked about the weekend protests as well on Monday. He said the NYPD responded to 911 calls about protests outside the hospital - not to aid ICE - which he called the raids cruel and inhumane.
"I want to be very clear that there was no prior coordination or planning between the NYPD and ICE ahead of this incident," Mamdani said, "I've made very clear that our laws leave nothing, no room for interpretation about the fact that our NYPD will not participate in civil immigration enforcement."
New York's sanctuary city laws bar city agencies from assisting in civil immigration operations in most cases. Mamdani says his administration will be examining the city's protocols when it comes to responding during an ICE operation in the city.
"I've also been very clear about my views on ICE raids as a whole. I think that they are cruel. I think that they are inhumane. I think that they do not serve any interest of public safety," Mamdani said.
A video circulating online of an NYPD officer throwing a protester to the ground is also drawing criticism. Mamdani called the video disturbing and that it is under investigation.
The NYPD said officers were called to “street disruptions” and were not involved with ICE operations.
A spokesperson for Wyckoff Hospital said they had no comment.
