NEW YORK — In a coordinated effort to protect immigrant families, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a citywide appeal to private parking garage and lot owners to refuse requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use their properties for enforcement staging.
Broad coalition backs the request
The mayor’s letter, sent Friday, was signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and 109 other elected officials from the five boroughs. The coalition argues that while city ordinances limit ICE’s use of municipal property, those restrictions do not extend to privately owned facilities, leaving a gap that can be closed by voluntary compliance.
Recent incident underscores urgency
The appeal follows a deadly ICE operation in Marble Hill last week, where federal agents shot a 28‑year‑old man during an immigration enforcement raid. City officials said ICE agents had been staging the operation from a nearby private parking lot before the shooting.
“Do not rent your property to ICE. Do not lend it to them. Tell them they are not welcome,” Mayor Mamdani said in a statement accompanying the letter. He emphasized that private owners have the power to protect their neighborhoods and the families who live and work there.
Examples of compliance already emerging
City leaders cited a downtown Manhattan garage that removed ICE vehicles after receiving complaints from nearby residents. The coalition hopes that example will encourage other operators to follow suit.
Officials also listed several locations where ICE has reportedly staged operations, including a private lot near Marble Hill, multiple lots in Queens and a garage in Manhattan. By publicly naming these sites, the coalition aims to raise awareness and prompt owners to act.
Impact on immigrant communities
Supporters of the effort say that heightened immigration enforcement has created a climate of fear among immigrant communities, affecting daily activities such as commuting to work, shopping for groceries and sending children to school. By denying ICE access to private property, the coalition believes it can help restore a sense of safety and normalcy.
The letter urges owners and operators to consider the broader community impact of allowing federal agents to use their facilities. It also calls on local business associations and neighborhood groups to spread the message and support property owners who choose to refuse ICE.
Next steps
The coalition plans to continue outreach through town‑hall meetings, neighborhood associations and direct communication with parking‑facility owners. It also encourages residents to report any instances where ICE attempts to use private property without consent.
For the full text of the letter, visit the city’s official website.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
