A New York City nonprofit organization has come under intense scrutiny following the release of undercover footage that appears to show one of its leaders advising a person posing as a noncitizen on how to illegally vote in the city’s upcoming mayoral election. The video, released by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), an investigative organization known for covert recordings, has sparked renewed debate over election integrity, nonprofit compliance with federal law, and the safeguards governing local voting systems. According to OMG, the footage shows the executive director of La Jornada, a nonprofit that says it assists migrants with paperwork and legal needs, responding to questions from an undercover journalist who explicitly claims he is not registered to vote and is not a U.S. citizen. In the recording, the journalist asks how to vote and which candidate to support, prompting the director to allegedly offer guidance that critics argue could constitute violations of both election law and restrictions placed on tax-exempt organizations. While the full legal implications remain unresolved, the video has already generated political fallout, particularly because it appears to reference support for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a progressive figure whose administration has faced early controversy.

According to OMG, the undercover operation involved a journalist posing as an unregistered immigrant who approached La Jornada’s executive director, Pedro Rodriguez, seeking assistance with voting. In the footage, the journalist identifies himself as an immigrant who was “sent” to vote and admits he has not registered or signed any official documents. Rodriguez, according to the recording, acknowledges that the individual is not registered and proceeds to discuss how he could still go vote, allegedly directing him to a local community college polling site. At one point, when the journalist asks who he should vote for, Rodriguez appears to suggest supporting a candidate whose name starts with the letter “M,” which OMG and its supporters interpret as a reference to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. James O’Keefe, founder of OMG, emphasized this point in a post on X, asserting that the conversation occurred despite Rodriguez’s awareness that the individual was not registered and was posing as a migrant without legal voting status. O’Keefe further argued that such conduct, if accurate, could represent violations of federal and state election laws, as well as Internal Revenue Service rules that prohibit 501(c)(3) nonprofits from engaging in partisan political activity.

The video has drawn particular attention because voting by noncitizens in New York City elections is illegal, even though the city has faced criticism in recent years for what some describe as comparatively weak voter identification mechanisms. Under current law, only U.S. citizens who are properly registered are eligible to vote in municipal elections. While New York City briefly explored allowing noncitizens to vote in certain local contests, those efforts were ultimately blocked in court, leaving citizenship requirements firmly in place. Critics of the nonprofit argue that the footage raises serious concerns about how easily someone might attempt to circumvent the system if provided misleading or unlawful advice. Supporters of tighter election safeguards say the recording underscores vulnerabilities that could be exploited, even if actual instances of illegal voting are rare. La Jornada, for its part, publicly presents itself as an organization focused on helping migrants navigate legal processes, and the video has prompted questions about whether the comments attributed to its director reflect official policy, a misunderstanding, or conduct taken out of context. As of now, no criminal charges have been announced in connection with the video.

After the footage was released, O’Keefe and members of his team confronted Rodriguez, who denied instructing anyone to illegally vote or to support a specific candidate. Rodriguez reportedly disputed OMG’s interpretation of the exchange, even though the undercover journalist had clearly presented himself as unregistered and ineligible. This denial has fueled competing narratives, with critics accusing the nonprofit of backtracking under public pressure, while defenders argue the video is selectively edited or mischaracterized. The controversy has also drawn Zohran Mamdani into the spotlight, even though he does not appear in the footage and has not been accused of direct involvement. Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, has already faced heightened attention following recent policy developments in the city, making the allegations particularly politically charged. Legal experts note that any determination of wrongdoing would depend on whether authorities conclude the advice given constituted intentional facilitation of illegal voting or impermissible political advocacy by a tax-exempt organization.

The nonprofit controversy has unfolded alongside growing public criticism of Mayor Mamdani following a recent increase in New York City transit fares. This week, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority implemented a long-planned fare hike, raising the base fare for buses and subways from $2.90 to $3, with reduced fares increasing to $1.50 and express bus fares rising to $7.25. The increase took effect shortly after Mamdani assumed office, prompting frustration among residents who recalled his campaign promise to make city buses free. While the mayor does not directly control MTA fare decisions and the hike was approved last year as part of the agency’s budget cycle, critics argued that the timing highlighted a disconnect between campaign rhetoric and governing realities. On social media, users expressed disappointment, with some accusing the mayor of failing to deliver on a key promise and others acknowledging that the decision predated his administration. Newsweek reported that the fare increase has reignited debate over whether ambitious transit proposals can be implemented without new taxes or increased public subsidies.

Taken together, the allegations involving the nonprofit and the backlash over transit fares have contributed to a turbulent early period for Mamdani’s mayoralty, reinforcing broader political divisions within the city. Supporters argue that the mayor is being unfairly blamed for decisions beyond his control and for allegations tied to third parties, while critics say the controversies reflect deeper concerns about governance, accountability, and the role of activist organizations in local politics. The undercover video continues to circulate widely online, fueling calls for investigations into nonprofit conduct and election safeguards, even as questions remain about context, intent, and legal thresholds. As authorities have not yet announced formal action, the episode illustrates how quickly politically charged footage can shape public discourse, particularly in an environment already marked by mistrust and polarization. Whether the allegations lead to legal consequences or fade into the background, the incident has intensified scrutiny of nonprofits, election processes, and political promises in America’s largest city—issues likely to remain at the center of debate as the election season progresses.