The Department of Homeland Security has reached out to disaffected New York City police officers following socialist Zohran Mamdani’s surprise mayoral victory, inviting them to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Thursday, the agency’s official X account posted: “Join an agency that respects you, your family, and your commitment to serving in law enforcement.” The post appeared aimed at NYPD officers unsettled by Mamdani’s election, amid speculation that some may resign or relocate rather than serve under his administration. According to New York Magazine’s Intelligencer, the move echoes previous federal recruitment efforts under former President Donald Trump, whose administration spent millions on politically charged ads targeting police officers in sanctuary cities such as Chicago, Boston, and Seattle. Those campaigns were part of a push to hire 10,000 new ICE agents nationwide.

Trump, a vocal critic of Mamdani, has labeled the mayor-elect a “communist” and threatened to withhold federal funding from New York City or even have him arrested if he refuses to cooperate with ICE. Mamdani, 34, dismissed the threats but said he remains open to working with the president on reducing the city’s cost of living — his signature campaign issue. At a Wednesday press conference introducing his transition team, Mamdani warned federal immigration agents that “everyone will be held to the same standard of the law.” He added that New Yorkers “are looking for an era of consistency, clarity, and conviction.”

New York City, which saw a surge of migrants under the Biden administration, has clashed repeatedly with federal immigration authorities over its sanctuary policies. Mamdani, a fierce critic of ICE, has called it “a rogue agency” and vowed to block deportation operations where possible. With his inauguration set for January 1, 2026, tensions between City Hall and Washington appear certain to escalate.