Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday condemned a federal immigration enforcement operation after an anti-ICE mob violently protested outside a Brooklyn hospital over the weekend — but denied accusations that the NYPD coordinated with the feds.
“I’ve 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 at an unrelated Bronx press conference.
Police arrested nine people after around 200 protesters gathered outside Wyckoff Hospital on Saturday night in support of Nigerian national Chidozie Wilson Okeke, who was brought there by ICE agents who’d taken him into custody. He has previous arrests for assault and criminal drug possession, sources said.
The mayor said a video showing a police officer throwing a protester to the ground during the mayhem was “incredibly disturbing” and was under investigation.
But Mamdani denied claims from lefty local pols that there had been operational coordination between ICE and the NYPD, after police officers responded to the protest.
“Rather, they were responding to 911 calls regarding the protest outside of the hospital. And as 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,” he said.
