Former acting ICE director Jonathan Fahey on Monday tore into New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing the move would leave neighborhoods less protected while dumping costs onto sanctuary cities. His morning television broadside turned a long-running national immigration fight into a fresh New York storyline, with residents watching as both sides battle over what public safety and immigrant protection should look like.
Fahey: Abolishing ICE Would Make Cities Less Safe
Fahey said getting rid of ICE "would result in a significantly less safe society," citing what he described as rising crime trends and growing financial pressure on cities that shelter undocumented residents. He argued that if federal enforcement were pulled back, local police departments and municipal budgets would be forced to shoulder deportation and detention responsibilities instead. As reported by Fox News, Fahey made the case on Fox & Friends First and warned that the practical fallout of dismantling ICE has been glossed over in the political debate.
Mamdani Defends The Stance
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has consistently defended the call to abolish the agency, arguing that ICE’s tactics are "cruel" and beyond meaningful reform. In a transcript posted by the Mayor’s Office, Mamdani stated flatly, "ICE should be abolished," urging Democrats to build a new, uncompromising vision instead of listening to party elders who see the slogan as politically hazardous. City Hall presents the position as part of a broader effort to strengthen sanctuary protections and to limit federal access to sensitive city locations without a judge signing off.
Political Stakes And National Echoes
Mamdani has pushed fellow Democrats to "embrace" the abolition message rather than bury it, a stance that national outlets say has sharpened internal party splits. As reported by Bloomberg, he has tied his position to recent enforcement operations that he argues have been cruel to immigrant communities. Critics respond that the slogan hands opponents an easy way to portray Democrats as weak on crime and border control, turning what started in New York into a talking point far beyond city limits.
What 'Abolish ICE' Would Take Legally
Turning the chant into law would run through Washington. ICE was created by Congress as part of the Department of Homeland Security reorganization and officially began operating on March 1, 2003, so dismantling the agency or shifting its statutory duties elsewhere would require congressional legislation. Presidents and mayors can use executive orders or city policies to scale back cooperation with federal agents, but they cannot wipe away ICE’s underlying legal authorities. That institutional backdrop is laid out in historical materials on Congress.gov.
On The Ground In New York
Inside City Hall, Mamdani has leaned on executive tools, including measures that he says require judicial warrants before ICE can enter certain city facilities, aiming to shield immigrant neighborhoods while the national fight rages on. Those local moves are already rippling through businesses and service providers. As enforcement actions have cut foot traffic, some small storefronts in heavily immigrant areas report that enforcement activity has reduced customer visits and forced them to shorten hours. City officials say the measures are meant to protect existing sanctuary policies and community trust while federal rules remain in flux.
What's Next
The clash between Fahey and Mamdani captures a bigger choice facing policymakers: double down on aggressive federal enforcement or invest further in local safeguards that critics argue can complicate public safety efforts. For now, the fight will keep playing out in TV studios, city halls, and on Capitol Hill, as each side tries to pull public opinion and political momentum its way. New Yorkers will be watching to see whether the mayor’s high-profile stance turns into concrete policy shifts on the street or mostly adds more fuel to an already heated partisan brawl.
