Socialist Mayor Mamdani bashes ICE after chaotic protest leads to arrests: ‘Cruel and inhumane’
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ripped into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a crowd of anti-ICE demonstrators attempted to disrupt the arrest of an illegal immigrant accused of...
By Fox News · Fox News
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ripped into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a crowd of anti-ICE demonstrators attempted to disrupt the arrest of an illegal immigrant accused of assault and drug possession, according to a local outlet. Mamdani, a prominent socialist and immigrant politician, told Gothamist on Sunday that he had not seen videos circulating online of the anti-ICE protesters at the hospital, but said, "I've said time and time again, ICE raids are cruel and inhumane." He added, "They do nothing to serve in the interest of public safety," per the outlet. Nine demonstrators were detained Saturday night after protests erupted in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood over ICE’s arrest of Chidozie Wilson Okeke, an illegal immigrant from Nigeria with previous arrests on assault and drug possession charges, according to the Department of Homeland Security. ANTI-ICE DEMONSTRATORS DETAINED AFTER PROTESTING ARREST OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FACING ASSAULT, DRUG CHARGES Mamdani was not the only New York City politician to criticize the ICE operation. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso posted on X that "ICE’s presence in Bushwick is deeply alarming." He encouraged followers to report federal agents, writing, "If you see ICE in your neighborhood, call or text the Hands Off NYC hotline." Reynoso applauded the demonstrators, writing, "To our neighbors who quickly mobilized last night, thank you for making it loud and clear that ICE is not welcome in Brooklyn." Democratic state Sen. Julia Salazar, who represents Brooklyn, also posted on X encouraging residents to report ICE agents’ presence. She also called it "concerning" that so many New York Police Department officers were deployed for what she called "clearly a justified gathering by local residents." According to DHS, Okeke refused to comply with ICE agents' commands to exit his car and attempted to hit them with the vehicle. He is accused of being "physically combative" and attempting to punch and…