3:20New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears on The View, on Jan. 20, 2026.ABC News
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a return to ABC's "The View" on Tuesday to reflect on his initial weeks in office and shared his thoughts on the contentious increase in Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) activities nationwide.
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin inquired about the demands from certain Democrats to dismantle ICE, particularly following incidents such as the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE officer in Minnesota.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears on The View, on Jan. 20, 2026.ABC News
The 34-year-old mayor, who has pledged to defend New York’s immigrant community, expressed his agreement with those demands.
"I support the abolition of ICE, and here’s why: We are witnessing an organization that shows no commitment to its declared purpose," stated Mamdani, whose appearance on Tuesday was his first since taking office last month.
Mamdani, a naturalized citizen originally from Uganda, has been a vocal critic of ICE for years. During his campaign last year, he remarked in a June interview that ICE is "a rogue agency, one that disregards laws and order."
The mayor reiterated those views on "The View" Tuesday.
"We are witnessing a government agency that is meant to enforce immigration law, yet instead, it terrorizes individuals regardless of their immigration status, irrespective of the law, and irrespective of the specifics of each case," Mamdani remarked.
"I’m exhausted from waking up each day to see new footage of someone being forcibly removed from a vehicle, taken from their home, and taken from their lives. What we need is to see compassion," he added.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appears on The View, on Jan. 20, 2026.ABC News
Last week, the mayor expressed his "outrage" after an employee of the New York City council was apprehended by ICE in Long Island during a routine immigration meeting.
"This represents an attack on our democracy, our city, and our values," he stated in a post on X on Jan. 13. "I am demanding his immediate release and will keep an eye on the situation."
The Department of Homeland Security argued in a statement that the employee is in the U.S. unlawfully and has an alleged criminal record that includes an arrest for assault. The agency did not elaborate on the details of the assault charge.
City officials, however, maintained that the employee has legal status.
Mamdani was questioned by "The View" hosts regarding his interactions with President Donald Trump following their amicable meeting at the White House after his electoral victory.
The mayor conveyed that he aims to be forthright and transparent with the president, particularly concerning immigration issues.
"It’s alarming to witness what is transpiring in the name of public safety. I’ve expressed this to the president. These ICE operations are cruel, inhumane, and they fail to provide that public safety," Mamdani stated. "In fact, they create a pervasive sense of fear among many."
In response to Trump’s
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