Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned ICE on Monday after an angry mob violently protested the arrest of an illegal immigrant in Brooklyn — but denied accusations from his fellow lefties that the NYPD coordinated with the feds.
Hizzoner’s have-it-both-ways remarks came as the left-wing furor over the arrest of Nigerian national Chidozie Wilson Okeke, who was brought to Wyckoff Hospital on Saturday night, still smoldered, with some local pols calling to “abolish ICE.”
“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 about ICE raids as he took questions at an unrelated Bronx press conference.
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“And when it comes to our police force, I’ve been very clear about the fact that there cannot be any work in coordination with ICE and planning with ICE. And there was none of that when it comes to Wyckoff.”
Videos from anti-ICE activists of alleged federal immigration enforcement vehicles parked outside the Bushwick hospital circulated online, drawing what eventually became a mob of roughly 200 protesters.
The NYPD said it responded to reports of the protests at around 10:30 p.m., with tensions between the masked demonstrators and cops quickly heating up.
“They were blocking hospital entrances and exits, so emergency vehicles would have trouble coming in and out,’’ an NYPD rep said.
The agents left the hospital with Okeke around 2:45 a.m., with the protesters and cops then dispersing, police said.
Nine people were taken into custody on charges including resisting arrest, criminal mischief and obstructing governmental administration, the NYPD said.
Mamdani maintained that the NYPD only responded to the protest — and not coordinated with ICE as some of his fellow lefties claimed.
“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.
The mayor also addressed one video from the protest that showed a cop throwing a demonstrator to the ground, telling reporters that the incident was under investigation.
“That is incredibly disturbing, and that is being actively investigated right now,” he said.
The furor over the arrest showed no signs of letting up, as 25 protesters, including local Councilwoman Sandy Nurse, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Rep. Nydia Velázquez, held a new demonstration outside the hospital Monday.
Nurse said that Bushwick resident were “very, very clear” that they don’t want ICE in the nabe.
“And not only are we saying it, we are organized,” Nurse said. “And that is why 200 to 300 people showed up here on a Saturday night at the drop of a hat to show up for our neighbors. We have solidarity, and we are united on this.”
– Additional reporting by Matthew Fischetti and Joe Marino
