Mamdani and Jeffries unite on letter opposing ICE use of NYC garages

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries have aligned on a rare joint effort to oppose federal immigration enforcement, following an October shooting in New York City. The collaboration brings together the city's progressive leader and the head of the party's establishment wing, signaling a consensus against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations despite their recent political friction.

The development centers on a letter dated October 16, led by Mamdani and signed by more than 100 Democratic elected officials in New York City. The group includes every Democratic member of the city's congressional delegation, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The letter addresses parking lot and garage owners, asking them not to rent, lend, or make their property available to ICE as a staging area for enforcement operations. The signatories cited the early October shooting of 28-year-old Oscar Belgal in the Marble Hill neighborhood, describing it as "not an isolated case" and referencing previous incidents in Queens and Manhattan.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, a close ally of Jeffries and chair of the Queens Democratic Party, told Axios that Democrats are "definitely unified across the spectrum re ICE." Meeks noted that Mamdani has reached out to him regarding local issues and that Jeffries is indicating a desire to work with the New York Congressional delegation. A prominent Mamdani ally, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the inclusion of both U.S. Senators and the full House delegation as significant, noting it reflects how universally hated ICE is by Democrats and the work Mamdani has done to build bridges.

The collaboration stands out against a backdrop of recent tensions between the two leaders. Jeffries waited until 11 days before last year's election to endorse Mamdani for mayor, a move that rankled the left. This summer, the two clashed when Jeffries supported Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat while Mamdani campaigned for their primary challengers. However, they have found moments of accord previously, such as when Mamdani opposed an aborted plan by City Councilmember Chi Ossé to primary Jeffries. The two also appeared together at a ribbon-cutting for a Brooklyn housing development on Thursday.

The letter's signatories include Goldman and Espaillat, who were unseated by Mamdani-backed challengers this spring. Retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez also signed, despite the New York Times reporting she was burned by Mamdani's endorsement of Claire Valdez over her chosen successor. Gillibrand, who last year accused then-candidate Mamdani of making "references to global jihad" before apologizing, is also among the signatories.

While some attribute the unity to Mamdani's bridge-building efforts, others point to the issue itself. One New York Democratic elected official told Axios that everyone signing has more to do with the power of the issue than the power of the Mayor. A person in Jeffries' orbit argued that immigration is simply "a unifying issue for Dems," while acknowledging that Mamdani is consistently reaching out to the delegation to smooth ties since the elections.