President Donald Trump has previously warned that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani could face arrest if he interferes with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, highlighting the continuing tension between the White House and New York City over immigration enforcement.
Trump first made the arrest threat on July 1, 2025, while visiting the Florida immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” At the time, Mamdani was the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor and had pledged to resist cooperation between city agencies and ICE.
Asked about Mamdani’s position, Trump said, “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him,” while also saying that he would be watching Mamdani closely. The Washington Post
Trump Questioned Mamdani’s Immigration Status
During those remarks, Trump also questioned whether Mamdani was legally in the United States and said authorities would examine the issue.
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018, rejected Trump’s comments and said the president was attempting to intimidate him over his position on immigration enforcement. The Washington Post
Trump’s suggestion that Mamdani might be in the country illegally was inaccurate. Mamdani is a U.S. citizen. Good Morning America
Mamdani’s Position on ICE
Mamdani has maintained that New York City should uphold its sanctuary-city policies and limit cooperation between local agencies and federal immigration authorities.
The mayor has also continued to publicly disagree with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, while emphasizing that he is willing to work with the president when doing so could benefit New Yorkers.
At a September 2026 press availability, Mamdani said immigration remains one of the areas where he and Trump have significant disagreements. He nevertheless defended his decision to continue meeting with the president, saying those conversations had produced results for New Yorkers. New York City Government
Trump and Mamdani Have Also Worked Together
Despite their sharp disagreements, the relationship between Trump and Mamdani has not been limited to public confrontation.
Mamdani said that meetings with Trump had helped secure the release of a New York City college student detained by ICE. He also said the two had discussed the development of Sunnyside Yard and other issues affecting the city. New York City Government
The interactions illustrate the complicated relationship between the two leaders: they disagree strongly over immigration policy while continuing to communicate on issues involving New York City.
The Arrest Threat Remains a Point of Tension
Trump’s 2025 remarks became one of the most prominent clashes between the president and Mamdani during the mayoral campaign.
Mamdani responded at the time by accusing Trump of trying to intimidate him and said he would not accept threats related to his opposition to ICE enforcement in New York. The Washington Post
Whether any renewed warning from Trump would lead to an actual legal confrontation would depend on the specific actions involved and applicable federal and local law. Trump’s 2025 comments were specifically tied to the possibility of Mamdani interfering with ICE operations.