New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken legal action against the Trump administration, disputing the use of city-owned parking lots by ICE for enforcement operations.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has threatened legal action against the Trump administration over the alleged unauthorized use of New York City property by ICE—specifically, the use of public parking lots for enforcement operations. This stems from a letter sent to federal officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE leadership, demanding that ICE cease using city-owned parking facilities for staging or conducting operations.
Mamdani has also urged private parking garage owners to prohibit ICE access, citing concerns over public safety and fear among residents. The dispute centers on ICE’s presence in public spaces, which the city claims is unauthorized, while a DHS spokesperson maintains it is authorized under federal law.
This conflict is part of a broader tension between New York City—long a sanctuary city since 1989—and the federal government. The city recently won a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s efforts to override sanctuary laws in July 2025. Over 100 elected officials, including Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, have backed Mamdani’s stance.
Notably, the incident involving ICE shooting Oscar Belgal, 28, while he was picking up his child from school, has heightened public concern. While the shooting is not directly tied to the property dispute, it underscores the broader tensions around ICE operations in the city.
Likely accurate — probability of truth 73%, weighted across 13 claims from 2 independent outlets.