NYC’s New Mayor Calls ICE ‘Cruel and Inhumane,’ Vows to Block Federal Agents From Polling Places

New York City’s far-left mayor just said the quiet part out loud.

Zohran Mamdani went on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday and declared that he would personally block ICE agents from showing up at polling places in the city. Let that sink in for a second. The mayor of the largest city in America is promising to stand between federal law enforcement officers and the ballot box.

But he didn’t stop there. Mamdani called ICE a “cruel and inhumane agency” and told the host he believes it should be abolished entirely. This from a man who is supposed to be keeping New York City safe.

Newsmax covered his remarks:

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would do everything in his power to prevent ICE agents from being deployed at polling places in his city.

"I've said to the president ICE has nothing to do with elections." https://t.co/8ne4hjxyNU

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 20, 2026

During the interview, Mamdani was asked about suggestions from former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon that ICE agents could be deployed at polling locations during the upcoming November midterm elections.

His response? He said he would “do everything in my power” to make sure that does not happen.

Newsmax reported on his full remarks:

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would do everything in his power to prevent ICE agents from being deployed at polling places in his city.

“I’ve said to the president ICE has nothing to do with elections. I’ve said to him time and time again that ICE is a cruel and inhumane agency, and that here in New York City, we are focused on delivering public safety,” Mamdani said.

He added: “I think it speaks to a vision of this country where democracy is something to be suppressed, as opposed to something to be protected.”

So the mayor of New York City believes that preventing illegal immigrants from voting is “suppressing democracy.” Read that again slowly.

Conservative commentator Bridgett Fertig nailed it in her response:

New York Mayor Mamdani calls ICE "cruel and inhumane" while openly planning to block federal agents from monitoring polling centers.

He accuses Trump of "suppressing democracy" while HE prepares to suppress federal oversight of elections!

Should a mayor who pledges to obstruct… pic.twitter.com/VW6NLBIGOa

— Bridgett Fertig (@LightOnLiberty) April 20, 2026

This is the same mayor who has openly called for abolishing ICE entirely. In a separate interview, Mamdani told ABC News that ICE “has no interest in fulfilling its stated reason to exist” and that the agency is “terrorizing people no matter their immigration status.”

ABC News had more on his radical stance:

“I am in support of abolishing ICE, and I’ll tell you why: Because what we see is an entity that has no interest in fulfilling its stated reason to exist,” Mamdani said.

“We’re seeing a government agency that is supposed to be enforcing some sort of immigration law, but instead, what it is doing is terrorizing people no matter their immigration status, no matter the facts of the law, and no matter the facts of the case.”

Meanwhile, ICE has been actively arresting murderers, rapists, and child predators who are in the country illegally. The Department of Homeland Security has posted arrest after arrest of violent criminal aliens throughout April alone. But sure, ICE is the problem.

Chief Nerd shared the clip of Mamdani’s remarks and the internet had thoughts:

MAMDANI: “ICE is a cruel and inhumane agency. Here in New York City … our approach to public safety is working.” pic.twitter.com/bd4Q2uTIa5

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) April 19, 2026

At this point it’s worth remembering that Mamdani is a self-described Democratic Socialist who took his oath of office on the Quran. He ran on a platform of defunding the police and abolishing prisons. And now he wants to make sure federal law enforcement can’t go near polling places while his city remains a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.

The midterm elections are just six months away. If the mayor of New York City is already promising to obstruct federal agents at the polls, you have to wonder what else they’re willing to do to protect their power.

For more on NYC’s defiance of federal immigration enforcement, check out 100 Percent Fed Up also covered this story with additional reactions.

How does that sound?