Mayor Zohran Mamdani continued to tell Venezuelans in the five boroughs that they are safe as President Nicolás Maduro remains in federal custody in New York. 

“The priority that I have is the safety and well-being of Venezuelan New Yorkers, of whom there are tens of thousands who call our city home,” he said.

What You Need To Know

Mayor Zohran Mamdani continued to tell Venezuelans in the five boroughs that they are safe as President Nicolás Maduro remains in federal custody in New York

Over the weekend, Mamdani said he was against the operation and spoke directly to President Donald Trump about Maduro arriving to the city

There are more than 17,000 Venezuelans in the city, according to 2020 census data. However, tens of thousands more came to New York amid the migrant crisis

Maduro first arrived in the city on Saturday after U.S. forces captured him and his wife in an overnight military operation in Caracas. 

Over the weekend, Mamdani said he was against the operation and spoke directly to President Donald Trump about it. 

“I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act. And to make clear that it was an opposition based on being opposed to a pursuit of regime change due to violation of federal and international law,” he said. “And a desire to see that be consistent each and every day.” 

Mamdani has not spoken to Trump since Saturday. 

The mayor is getting briefed on the situation from his top officials, including the police commissioner and his chief counsel, because he still lacks security clearance. 

“I continue to stay in constant communication with my police commissioner and the NYPD, and my job as the mayor of New York City is to ensure that any federal action has a limited impact on the day-to-day lives of New Yorkers,” Mamdani said.

Maduro’s detention and trial in New York have put the city and new mayor into the conflict. 

There are more than 17,000 Venezuelans in the city, according to 2020 census data. However, tens of thousands more came to New York amid the migrant crisis. 

“We have, in our conversations internally, also made it clear that this is a time when many are looking for additional guidance, for additional recommendations and additional ways to contact city government and that is going to be a priority for the team we’ve already put together and the one we’re putting together now,” Mamdani said.