ICE Began Arresting People in Queens, Defying Mayor Mamdani’s Orders to Stay Out of NYC

BLAKE FAGAN / AFP via Getty Images

By Jerome London

Updated 5 minutes ago,
July 30, 2026

Federal immigration agents have moved into Queens, escalating a standoff with New York City’s mayor over local cooperation with immigration enforcement.

ICE moved into Queens this week, hunting down people that local jails let walk free instead of turning them over.

Mayor Mamdani ordered city agencies to keep their hands off federal immigration enforcement. Agents came in anyway.

Like what you read? Follow Thought Catalog on Facebook, and check out more on our website.

Read more News.