NYC Mayor Mamdani Calls for Abolishing ICE Amid Rising Deportation Backlash

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his support for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reigniting national debate over the agency’s enforcement tactics. The statement, made on January 20, 2026, during an interview on The View, cited widespread public concern following recent raids in Minnesota and a fatal shooting involving an ICE agent. Mamdani described the agency’s actions as “cruel, inhumane,” and called for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement. His remarks follow a Quinnipiac University poll showing 57% of voters disapprove of ICE’s current practices. A separate Economist/YouGov survey found 46% of Americans now support abolishing ICE—up from 27% in June 2025. President Donald Trump defended the administration’s migrant crackdown on January 21, 2026, urging ICE to release data on violent criminals but acknowledged occasional overreach. The controversy underscores growing political pressure on immigration enforcement policies ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.