Tom Homan, the Trump-appointed “border czar,” has issued a sharp warning that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) will intensify its presence in New York City as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani prepares to assume office. According to Homan, federal immigration teams are already operating in the city, and he plans to further increase enforcement.
Homan pointed to New York’s sanctuary city policies as justification for the escalation, arguing there are “public safety threats” that ICE needs to address. He also criticized the current administration for limiting ICE access and pledged to hold outgoing Mayor Eric Adams accountable for previous constraints on enforcement — particularly his unfulfilled goal to re-open ICE operations at Rikers Island.
In a televised interview, Homan declared that the federal government is not backing down: “We will increase the enforcement presence in New York City … because they’re a sanctuary city.” He said that more operations will be carried out on city streets.
Homan’s warning comes just weeks before Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and vocal critic of ICE, is set to take office. Mamdani has pledged to “Trump-proof” the city by limiting ICE’s role in New York, but Homan argues that “federal law trumps” those local efforts.
What to Watch:
- Whether ICE actually increases its enforcement operations in New York City once Mamdani becomes mayor.
- How Mamdani’s administration responds to Homan’s threat — whether through legal resistance, negotiation, or public pressure.
- The impact on immigrant communities, especially those in sanctuary neighborhoods, if federal enforcement is scaled up.
- Potential political fallout in New York as this clash symbolizes the broader conflict between local progressive leadership and federal immigration authorities.
Summary:
As Zohran Mamdani prepares to take office as New York City’s next mayor, Tom Homan is signaling a more aggressive ICE strategy in the city. Homan argues that sanctuary policies are putting public safety at risk and vows to expand federal enforcement despite Mamdani’s opposition — setting up a high-stakes battle over immigration in the Big Apple.
