New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a new audit accusing federal immigration authorities of using aggressive and misleading tactics while interacting with city agencies and shelters.
The audit reviewed six city agencies to examine whether they were complying with New York City’s sanctuary laws. The agencies included the NYPD, Department of Correction, Department of Probation, Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Administration for Children’s Services.
The review was ordered under Executive Order 13, which Mamdani issued after taking office as part of his effort to strengthen protections for immigrant communities in the city.
According to the mayor’s office, the audit found that federal immigration authorities have increased their focus on city shelters and have sharply increased requests for civil immigration detainers.
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The report said the NYPD received 3,672 civil immigration detainer requests in 2025, compared with only 99 the year before. However, the NYPD did not transfer anyone to ICE in response to those requests.
The audit also accused federal agents of using deceptive tactics during visits to city facilities. In one case, Department of Homeland Security personnel allegedly visited a shelter in June 2025 and initially identified themselves as Fire Department officials. The report said they only acknowledged they were with DHS after a city employee demanded identification.
In April 2025, officers from several federal agencies, including ICE, DHS, the FBI and the DEA, reportedly visited shelters multiple times. According to the audit, some officers arrived in plainclothes and asked to conduct “wellness checks” on children while seeking information about specific clients.
The report also said agents sometimes presented subpoenas or administrative warrants, which do not automatically authorize access to shelters. In two cases, federal agents presented judicial warrants, leading to one arrest.
Another incident described in the audit involved ICE agents entering a Department of Probation building in Brooklyn. The report said the agents asked to use the bathroom but then attempted to look through the facility’s sign-in book before staff intervened and escorted them out.
Mamdani said the audit is intended to strengthen city protocols and protect the rights of all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. His administration said the recommendations will help city workers respond more clearly when federal immigration authorities seek access to city facilities or records.
The White House defended federal immigration enforcement, saying ICE officers are working to enforce the law and protect communities. The administration also criticized local officials who resist cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The audit highlights the ongoing conflict between New York City’s sanctuary policies and the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.
New York City’s Department of Correction had been sending daily reports to federal immigration authorities about the national origin of certain noncitizens in custody since at least 2015. https://t.co/PGLoxdGfgt pic.twitter.com/NbEqegT7Ag
— amNewYork™ (@amNewYork) May 22, 2026
