Zohran Mamdani sends formal letter to Trump administration, threatening legal action over ICE agents’ use of parking lots
Culture of fear.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has officially threatened the Trump administration with legal action over the alleged unauthorized use of city-owned parking lots by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing friction between the local government and federal immigration authorities.
According to The Guardian, the Mayor sent a formal letter demanding that federal agents immediately stop using city facilities to stage operations. He argues that this usage is not only illegal but also puts city residents at risk while creating a culture of fear for those attempting to access public property.
This situation follows reports that ICE agents have been parking vehicles and holding meetings in several unstaffed city-owned lots. An official statement mentions specific locations including a lot at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and areas along 111th Street near Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The proximity of these Queens lots to a city-run preschool and various cultural institutions has intensified local concerns.
Mamdani has asked DHS and ICE officials to prohibit the activity
Mamdani stated that the city has not authorized ICE to use its property for immigration-related work. He has called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella, and ICE New York Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo to issue immediate guidance that prohibits agents from using any New York City parking lots for their operations.
The tension reached a boiling point following a violent incident involving an ICE officer and Oscar Belgal. Lawyers for Belgal alleged that an agent in plainclothes did not identify himself before smashing the windows of Belgal’s car and firing shots into the vehicle while Belgal was picking up his five-year-old child from school.
This event has fueled the Mamdani administration’s push to remove ICE from city spaces entirely. The Mayor has been vocal about his desire to see the agency abolished, citing such actions as evidence of the danger posed to the public.
The Mayor is implementing Executive Order 13
To bolster these efforts, the Mayor is implementing Executive Order 13, which directs city agencies to update their protocols regarding how they handle attempts by non-local law enforcement to access city property.
A new policy for NYC Parks frontline workers is also being introduced. This policy aims to strengthen procedures for staff when they encounter federal agents trying to access public or non-public areas of park property. The goal is to ensure that city employees are equipped to enforce local laws and maintain the safety of these public spaces for all residents.
The administration’s stance has received support from various officials across the city. NYC Corporation Counsel Steven Banks stated that the DHS is now clearly on notice regarding the unauthorized use of city lots. He added that there is no excuse for continuing to commandeer city property and that the city is prepared to go to court if the practice does not stop immediately.
Similarly, the Mayor has reached out to private parking garage and lot owners, urging them to deny ICE the ability to use their private property for staging operations. In a letter sent on October 15, 2026, Mamdani asked owners to stop giving the agency options, telling them not to rent or lend their property to ICE agents.
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the agency’s actions
In response to the Mayor’s letter, a DHS spokesperson defended the agency’s actions. The spokesperson told the New York Times that the presence of ICE in public parking lots is fully authorized under federal law and is a standard practice for law enforcement agencies across the country. They also suggested that Mayor Mamdani should be grateful to their law enforcement officers for cleaning up the streets of New York City.
The legal landscape surrounding these sanctuary policies remains complex. The Trump administration lost a legal challenge concerning New York City’s sanctuary laws in July 2025. This history of legal battles suggests that the current dispute over parking lots may be heading toward a similar courtroom confrontation.
Governor Kathy Hochul has also weighed in, expressing support for the Mayor and noting her own role in signing the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act. This act prohibits state and local law enforcement from entering into agreements to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement, aiming to keep local resources focused on protecting city residents.
For many local leaders and advocacy groups, this is about more than just parking lots
It is about the fundamental right of residents to move through their neighborhoods without the fear of being targeted by federal agents. The Mayor’s office has emphasized that it will continue to use every legal tool available to challenge this federal overreach.
As the administration prepares for a potential legal battle, the city is also providing resources for residents who need support. This includes a free, confidential Immigration Legal Support Hotline that connects individuals with legal help in their preferred language. The city remains committed to its status as a sanctuary for immigrants, a policy that has been in place since the administration of Mayor Ed Koch in 1989.
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