Summer ICE

WINTRY MIX: The upcoming summer in New York City will be packed with major events like the Knicks ticker-tape parade, World Cup celebrations, Pride Month activities, America 250, and the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding. These festivities may coincide with an increase in federal immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.

This convergence of events and the potential ICE crackdown have caught the attention of Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and advocates for immigrant rights, who are preparing for a busy summer.

Last week, Hochul expressed concerns that a surge in enforcement could disrupt the city, especially with the World Cup approaching. Earlier today, the mayor assured reporters that the city and the NYPD are ready to manage any uncertainty.

“We are the biggest city in the country,” Mamdani stated at a press conference in Queens. “We are used to big events, and we are incredibly excited for this one.”

The potential operation, frequently mentioned by Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, adds a complex layer to the city’s celebratory atmosphere. “We’ve just had a lot of practice with being in the streets — thankfully celebrating,” noted state Sen. Pat Fahy, a Democrat. “It’s New York. People are not going to tolerate any type of surge here.”

Homan has emphasized that the federal government’s approach in New York will differ from the Minneapolis operations six months ago, which resulted in civil unrest and the deaths of two U.S. citizens. He explained to SiriusXM’s Chris Cuomo that the strategy would be precise and targeted.

“Every day we leave the office and we know exactly who we’re looking for, more likely where we will find them, because we have a targeted operation,” Homan said. “We have a folder on each target. It’s not gonna be driving around looking for people that we have no idea who we’re looking for. It’s gonna be a well-planned, targeted operation.”

Trump’s aggressive deportation tactics prompted Hochul and the state legislature to pass measures protecting undocumented immigrants. These include prohibiting law enforcement from wearing masks, restricting federal immigration authorities from executing civil deportation warrants in sensitive locations, and ending local police cooperation with ICE.

“We’re much better prepared as a result of that legislation,” Fahy said. “We’ve sent a very clear and strong message that ICE is not welcome.”

However, these laws have fueled Homan’s focus on New York. He has warned that without local law enforcement cooperation, ICE will adopt a broader approach to deportations. This has led immigrant advocates to prepare communities for an unpredictable summer.

“New Yorkers are going to stand up for their neighbors,” said Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition. “You’re going to see local communities organizing more, potentially protests, people standing up for New York and New Yorkers. This is an attack on all 19 million New Yorkers.” — Nick Reisman with Gelila Negesse

FROM CITY HALL

POLICING PARTY CITY: Shortly after taking office, Mayor Mamdani reaffirmed his campaign promise to dismantle the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG), which was involved in arresting anti-ICE protesters.

“We need to disband the SRG,” Mamdani stated on January 28. “I’m currently in conversations with the police commissioner about the ways in which we do so that are operational.”

However, six months later, the SRG remains in place, and Mamdani’s stance has shifted. When questioned about deploying the SRG during the chaos following the Knicks’ NBA Finals victory, the mayor commented, “The NYPD handled themselves appropriately in delivering safety across the five boroughs.”

Mamdani maintains his commitment to separating the SRG’s protest duties from its counterterrorism responsibilities and continues discussions with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch about disbanding the SRG. However, he has not provided a timeline or further details on the process.

Tisch has publicly and privately praised the SRG as a vital component of the NYPD. She acknowledged their efforts in an email to the department, commending them for managing the challenges presented by the Knicks celebrations.

Despite initially advocating for the disbandment of the SRG, Mamdani has faced criticism from his political base, including the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. The group criticized Mamdani for not fulfilling his pledge to eliminate the SRG and for supporting an increase in the NYPD’s uniformed headcount, contrary to his campaign promises. — Gelila Negesse and Chris Sommerfeldt 

From the Capitol

GUN BILL SURVIVES: The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to a New York law allowing civil liability suits against gun companies.

Federal law has generally shielded the firearms industry from lawsuits since 2005. However, in 2021, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie drafted a law to enable New York to sue manufacturers and dealers for actions deemed reckless and endangering public safety.

The law faced immediate challenges from the gun industry but has been upheld by lower courts. The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the appeal affirms the law’s validity.

“For New Yorkers and residents of the ten other states that have adopted similar laws — covering close to 117 million Americans — this serves as affirmation for victims, survivors, and communities across the nation that live with the realities of gun violence on a daily basis,” Myrie said in a statement. “We are not helpless. Gun violence is not inevitable.” — Bill Mahoney

IN OTHER NEWS

— ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: Progressives Champions PAC, which has spent nearly $400,000 in attack ads against NY-17 Democratic candidate Cait Conley, is reportedly funded by Republican groups. (Popular Information)

— MAKE IT MAKE CENTS: Mamdani’s administration will no longer delay billions of dollars in repayments to contracted nonprofits. (NBC New York)

— INSURANCE SCRAMBLE: Federal cuts will leave 450,000 New Yorkers enrolled in the state’s Essential Plan without healthcare coverage beginning next month. (New York Focus)

Missed this morning’s New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.