New York Mayor's Spanish ICE Guide Sparks Outcry From Republican Leaders

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced intense public backlash on Friday after releasing a video in Spanish that detailed how residents should interact with agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The post, which accumulated more than seven million views on X within hours, framed the agency's presence in the city as a source of fear for many residents.

In the video, Mamdani outlined specific legal boundaries for federal agents. He stated that ICE officers cannot enter private spaces such as homes, schools, hospitals, or private workplace areas without a judicial warrant signed by a judge. The mayor advised viewers to remain silent when speaking with agents and described the current environment as frightening for many people in the city.

Conservative lawmakers and commentators quickly turned their attention to the post, arguing that the guidance served as a manual for evading federal law. Representative Brandon Gill of Texas posted that it was insulting that the mayor, a citizen for less than ten years, was coaching residents in a foreign language on how to avoid lawful deportation. Senator Mike Lee of Utah noted that the video did not urge anyone to abide by United States laws because it was not made for the benefit of the American people.

Other critics used stronger language. Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina declared that anyone present in the city illegally is not a New Yorker. Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio simply labeled the action treason. Tomi Lahren, a Fox News commentator, criticized the post as an example of foreign-born Democrats instructing illegal residents on how to evade the law.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton described the statement as dangerous incitement filled with disturbing falsehoods. He warned that the guidance could put lives in danger by encouraging specific behaviors during encounters with federal officers. Actor Dean Cain added his criticism by saying that anyone who is not there illegally has no reason to fear the agency.

Mamdani has positioned himself against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement agenda since his campaign. He called for the abolition of ICE and stated that the New York Police Department would not assist the agency with civil enforcement. As mayor, he signed an executive order that strengthened sanctuary policies in the city, limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities and protecting personal information.

The new executive order directs city agencies to establish protocols for handling ICE requests to access city property or records. It also mandated expanded training and materials for city employees regarding their rights. Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office for comment on the viral post.