Mamdani’s Quiet Diplomacy: NYC Mayor Requests Release of Dozens of Detained Immigrants from Trump
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been quietly providing President Donald Trump with the names of approximately two dozen immigrant New Yorkers in ICE custody, requesting their release. This ongoing effort began after a successful intervention in February that freed a Columbia University student. The outreach continues through recent meetings, including a September sit-down at Gracie Mansion, marking a sustained, behind-the-scenes diplomatic channel between the mayor and the president on immigration matters.
Key points
- Mamdani successfully convinced Trump to release a Columbia University senior who had been detained by federal immigration agents earlier that day during their February meeting.
- Following that initial success, Mamdani and his staff have provided the names of about two dozen additional immigrant New Yorkers in ICE custody to Trump's team.
- The mayor has asked the president to order the release of these individuals, according to two anonymous sources with knowledge of the sensitive talks.
- The most recent instance of this outreach occurred during a September meeting between Mamdani and Trump at Gracie Mansion.
- The February release served as validation for Mamdani, demonstrating that his cordial relationship with the president could yield tangible results for New Yorkers.
Background
This development follows a series of high-profile detention-related diplomatic efforts in 2026. In October, the Trump administration secured the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American teacher detained in Russia since 2022, through direct appeals to Vladimir Putin. That same month, tensions flared in New York after ICE agents shot Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old undocumented immigrant in the Bronx; despite a two-hour negotiation between Trump and Mamdani, Belgal remained in federal custody. The current report suggests a shift from public confrontation to quiet, case-by-case intercession on immigration enforcement.
Why it matters
The report reveals a new dimension of federal-local relations, where a city mayor bypasses public policy debates to directly petition the president for individual clemency in immigration cases. It suggests that personal diplomatic channels may be influencing enforcement outcomes in New York, potentially setting a precedent for how local leaders engage with federal immigration authorities. The quiet nature of these requests, as described by anonymous sources, indicates a strategy focused on discreet results rather than public advocacy.
What to watch
The outcome of the requests for the remaining detainees is not specified in the source. Future developments may include public announcements regarding the status of these individuals, potential political backlash from either side of the aisle over the nature of the outreach, or further meetings between Mamdani and Trump to discuss additional cases or broader immigration policy.
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Politico