New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order on Friday aimed at strengthening protections for immigrants in the city. This includes improved oversight of compliance with local “sanctuary” policies and the creation of a migration crisis management committee. The announcement was made during an annual event at the Public Library that brought together religious leaders from various faiths.

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The order stipulates that federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not be able to access private property without a warrant, including garages, schools, or hospitals. According to an official statement, major city agencies must develop and provide mandatory training for all employees on how to interact with federal immigration authorities.

The city administration has two weeks to appoint a privacy officer in each department, develop specific training programs, and certify compliance with the protective measures by limiting data sharing with federal agencies, particularly ICE.

In addition, all agencies—especially the New York Police Department, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Children and Family Services—are required to conduct audits of their internal policies regarding interactions with federal immigration authorities, update their protocols, and increase transparency in these procedures.

A novel element of the order is the creation of a specialized committee to coordinate crisis management in the immigration field, ensuring a comprehensive institutional response that represents the entire local government. During the event, Mamdani also delegated an awareness-raising effort to religious leaders, distributing 32,000 pamphlets in ten languages ​​to inform parishioners about their rights when interacting with federal agents, such as the right to an interpreter, an attorney, or to remain silent.

The initiative received support from immigrant advocacy organizations. Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigrant Coalition, stated in a press release that Mamdani “recognizes her responsibility” and the “moral obligation” of residents to cooperate. “The federal government is waging an illegal and unaccountable campaign of terror against immigrants across the country and here in New York City,” the activist said, reminding those who live “in fear,” from the streets to the courts.

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