Ah, New York City, the Big Apple—where the subways smell like yesterday’s regrets, the taxis drive like they’re auditioning for a demolition derby, and now, apparently, the mayor-elect thinks he’s directing a low-budget remake of “The Fugitive,” starring undocumented immigrants as the heroes evading the long arm of the law. Enter Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who just waltzed into the mayor’s office after a nail-biter of an election on November 4, 2025, edging out Andrew Cuomo with 50.8 percent of the vote. Mamdani’s not just any politician; he’s the kind who promises free bus rides, city-run grocery stores, and a rent freeze that sounds great until you realize someone’s got to pay for the landlord’s yacht. But his latest stunt? A video that’s got the folks at Homeland Security wondering if he’s auditioning for a spot on the FBI’s watchlist.
From Rapper to Radical: Meet the Mayor-Elect
Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, to a family that sounds like the setup for an indie film: dad a big-shot academic, mom a filmmaker behind hits like “Queen of Katwe.” He bounced around the globe—Uganda, South Africa, New York—picking up degrees in Africana studies from Bowdoin College and a side gig as a rapper under names like Young Cardamom and Mr. Cardamom. (Yes, really. Because nothing says “revolutionary” like spice-themed hip-hop.) By 2020, he was in the New York State Assembly, representing Queens’ Astoria district, where he pushed bills for everything from fare-free buses to hunger strikes with taxi drivers. Reelected twice without a fight, he rode a wave of progressive fervor into the 2025 mayoral race, winning the Democratic primary in June via ranked-choice voting and then the general election against Cuomo’s independent bid.
His platform? A socialist smorgasbord: 200,000 affordable housing units, a $30 minimum wage by 2030, free college tuition, and turning NYC into a fortress for immigrants. He’s all about “environmental justice” with solar panels on schools and “public safety reform” that shrinks the cops’ role in favor of civilian crisis teams. Oh, and he’s no fan of Israel, calling its policies apartheid and backing boycotts. Fresh off his win, he married in 2025 with ceremonies spanning Dubai, NYC, and Uganda. Charming resume, right? Until you get to his views on immigration, where he treats federal enforcement like it’s an optional side dish at a vegan buffet.
The Video That Turned “Know Your Rights” Into “Hide and Seek”
Just days ago, on December 2, 2025, Mamdani dropped a video that’s less public service announcement and more underground resistance manual. In it, he vows to shield the city’s three million immigrants—himself included, as a naturalized citizen since 2018—from what he calls ICE’s “cruel and inhumane” raids. He lays out the playbook: Don’t open the door without a judicial warrant. Stay silent. Refuse to sign anything. Film everything. And the kicker? “We can all stand up to ICE.” It’s aimed at everyone from legal immigrants to those here without papers, essentially coaching them on how to stonewall federal agents like a pro wrestler dodging a pin.
Know your rights. Protect your neighbors.
New York is — and always will be — a city for all immigrants. pic.twitter.com/nuntRzgEwq
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) December 7, 2025
This isn’t some offhand tweet; it’s a polished message posted amid a spike in ICE arrests, including heartbreaking cases like a six-year-old Queens student deported with her mom in August 2025, or a father-son duo separated last week. Mamdani frames it as protecting families, but from an America First angle, it’s like handing out maps to bank vaults and calling it “financial advice.” Recent revelations show ICE arrests have skyrocketed, with 70 percent targeting criminals—murderers, rapists, gang members. Yet here’s Mamdani, turning NYC into a how-to guide for evasion, all while the city grapples with overcrowded cells and unsanitary conditions at federal plazas. If this video isn’t skating on thin legal ice, it’s at least doing triple axels over the line of common sense.
Noem Drops the Hammer: “None of It”
Enter Kristi Noem, the no-nonsense South Dakota rancher turned Homeland Security Secretary, who’s been busy since her January 2025 appointment turning the department into a deportation dynamo. On December 9, 2025, she fired back, accusing Mamdani of potentially violating the Constitution by advising folks on thwarting ICE. “Resisting arrest puts the safety of illegal aliens, law enforcement, and the public at risk,” her team stated, echoing her broader crusade against sanctuary shenanigans. Noem’s not mincing words: She’s called out mayors like Chicago’s Brandon Johnson for “ICE-free zones” and vowed prosecutions for anyone doxxing or assaulting agents. With over 200,000 applications pouring in for deportation jobs and partnerships with countries like Ecuador to stem the flow, Noem’s making it clear—America’s borders aren’t a suggestion.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem calls out NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, warning that his advice on evading law enforcement could violate the Constitution amid soaring attacks on ICE agents:
“The mayor, if he were mayor, could be violating the Constitution by giving advice on how to… pic.twitter.com/ne6R1kC0WC
— Sean Hannity 🇺🇸 (@seanhannity) December 9, 2025
Her response highlights the chaos: Attacks on ICE offices, like the Dallas shooting in September 2025 that left multiple dead and injured, and a 1,000 percent surge in assaults on officers. Noem’s pushing for judges to fast-track cases, remote work for enforcement, and zero tolerance for cities playing hide-the-immigrant. In her view, Mamdani’s video isn’t empowerment; it’s endangerment, fueling anarchists and cartels while undermining the rule of law.
Curbing the Chaos: How to Rein In a Rogue Mayor
So, what can be done about this lawless lark? Turns out, the feds have a toolkit sharper than a New Yorker’s sarcasm. For starters, lawsuits: The Trump administration has already sued four Democratic mayors in 2025 for policies that block basic cooperation with ICE, arguing they undermine enforcement and violate federal law. Cut the cash flow—threaten to withhold billions in federal funds, as Trump did post-election, forcing cities to choose between sanctuary status and their budgets. Congressional hearings have grilled mayors on how their directives shield criminals, with Republicans labeling them impediments to mass deportations.
Then there’s the heavy artillery: Executive directives barring local agencies from disentangling from federal ops, or outright arrests for incitement if things escalate. States like Illinois have laws prohibiting partnerships with ICE, but federal supremacy means Uncle Sam can override with court orders. Anti-sanctuary bills limit local discretion, and the Justice Department can prosecute for obstruction. In LA, a July 2025 directive mandating support for aliens drew fire, but Trump’s team is dismantling such roadblocks one by one. For Mamdani, who takes office January 1, 2026, this could mean a short honeymoon—faced with subpoenas, funding freezes, or even personal liability if his “stand up” rhetoric crosses into inciting violence.
In the end, America’s a nation of laws, not loopholes. Mamdani might dream of NYC as a socialist utopia where ICE is just another bad guy in his rap lyrics, but Noem’s reminding him: The adults are back in charge. If he wants to play rebel, fine—but don’t be surprised when the bill comes due, and it’s payable in federal court.