Audit Reveals Aggressive Tactics by Federal Immigration Officials in NYC
Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s office announced on Friday that an audit of six New York City agencies has unveiled that federal immigration officials are employing aggressive and misleading tactics. This audit, part of Executive Order 13, was initiated to ensure compliance with the city’s sanctuary law.
Executive Order Enforces Public Safety Audits
The audit specifically covers interactions between six key agencies: the Department of Children’s Services (ACS), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Department of Corrections (DOC), the Department of Probation (DOP), the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the Department of Social Services (DSS). This order, issued by Mamdani upon taking office, underscores a commitment to safeguard the city’s immigrant community.
Summary Highlights Interaction with Federal Authorities
The 19-page audit summary outlines the agencies’ interactions with federal immigration authorities and offers recommendations to address existing gaps in the city’s asylum policies. The findings seek to enhance local procedures when interacting with federal officials to ensure all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, can access essential city services safely.
Significant Increase in Immigration Detainer Requests
Among the significant findings, the report reveals that federal immigration authorities have intensified their targeting of the city’s shelters, resulting in a dramatic rise in requests for detainees directed to both the Department of Corrections and the NYPD. In 2025, the NYPD responded to 3,672 requests for civilian immigration detainers, a marked increase from just 99 such requests the previous year. Notably, the NYPD did not comply with these requests.
Deceptive Visits by Homeland Security Officials
The report details troubling instances, such as a June 2025 scenario where officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) visited a shelter, initially posing as fire department personnel. They only recognized their true affiliation after being asked for ID by city officials. Furthermore, in April 2025, federal agents made multiple visits to the same shelter in plain clothes, employing tactics like offering “wellness exams” to children while probing for specific individuals.
Confrontations in City Facilities
In a disturbing episode, ICE agents entered a Department of Probation facility in Brooklyn under the pretense of needing to use the restroom and attempted to review the facility’s sign-in book. However, staff members intervened, verified their identities, and escorted them out, as noted in the report.
Mayor Mamdani’s Commitment to Immigrant Rights
Mamdani, a known opponent of ICE and immigration policies from the Trump administration, stated that the audit serves as a critical measure to bolster compliance with local laws and to fortify protections for immigrant communities in New York City. He emphasized the importance of updating practices to adapt to the evolving nature of federal immigration enforcement.
Administration Calls for Cooperation with ICE
In response to the audit, the White House urged local leaders to work alongside ICE. Press Secretary Abigail Jackson underscored the agency’s role in enforcing laws and protecting communities while criticizing those who oppose federal immigration policies. Recommendations from the audit include limiting immigration status details in pre-sentence investigation reports, improving protocols for tracking detainee requests, and creating a system for the NYPD to inform relevant divisions about federal immigration-related calls.
