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Mamdani leans on NYC garage owners to block ICE from their properties

October 16, 2026 | | Print Article

In deep blue urban areas like New York City, which is fresh off electing a socialist mayor of Muslim faith, all signs point to illegal immigration serving as the lifeblood of today’s Democratic Party.

Democrats are growing bolder by the day when it comes to preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from carrying out its duties to enforce U.S. immigration laws, in some cases even calling on local law enforcement officials to obstruct justice by alerting communities when ICE is engaged in an enforcement action.

In the Big Apple, Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is leaning on private New York City garage and parking lot owners to block ICE agents from using their property, according to the New York Post.

“I am asking that you do not rent, lend, or otherwise make your property available to ICE as a staging area for its enforcement operations,” Mamdani wrote in a letter. “Make it known to ICE that it is not authorized to use your garages and lots.”

More from the newspaper:

Mamdani explained the ways in which the Big Apple blocks ICE from using its property for staging enforcement operations — in line with the city’s sanctuary policies, which bar cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — and flat-out asked garage owners to fall in line.

“These laws govern City property, not the private lots and garages that you operate. That is why we need your help,” the draft reads.

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The letter went out Friday, with Mamdani leading a coalition of more than 100 elected officials urging private parking lot and garage owners across New York City to refuse ICE  requests to use their properties as staging areas for enforcement operations, ABC 7 reported.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries were among those who signed off on the radical action.

Last week, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) joined with fellow Democrats to demand a “full and independent investigation” into ICE agents shooting a suspected illegal immigrant gang banger in the Bronx after he allegedly tried to ram their vehicles. Unknown to the agents, there was a 5-year-old boy in the car — he was unharmed.

AOC named the Target Corporation, saying the retailer “must stop offering their Bronx properties as private staging sites for ICE.”

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“Target opening up large, active retail parking lots for paramilitary activity is unacceptable and places the entire community at risk,” the democratic socialist claimed.

The retail giant pushed back by setting the record straight.

“Target has no cooperative agreements with ICE or any other immigration enforcement agency,” a Target spokesperson told American Wire, noting that a variety of other businesses use the same parking lot.

Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:

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Tom Tillison
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