By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Audits of six New York City agencies have revealed that federal immigration authorities employ aggressive and deceptive tactics, including falsely identifying themselves and misrepresenting their intentions when interacting with city shelters and staff. These findings, released by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office, stem from Executive Order 13, which aimed to ensure compliance with the city’s sanctuary laws and protect immigrant communities. The report details a significant increase in detainer requests targeting city shelters and recommends closing loopholes in sanctuary policies to better safeguard New Yorkers’ rights.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has released a critical audit report detailing accusations of misleading tactics employed by federal immigration agents. The report specifically highlights an incident in June 2025 where Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel allegedly misrepresented themselves as Fire Department officials when visiting a shelter. This deceptive approach was only revealed after a city employee pressed for identification, at which point the agents admitted their affiliation with DHS.
This revelation forms the core of the audit’s findings, painting a concerning picture of federal enforcement actions within the city. The report further elaborates on a pattern of behavior observed in April 2025, when officers from various federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DHS, the FBI, and the DEA, made multiple visits to shelters. These visits, some conducted in plainclothes, involved tactics such as using “wellness checks” on children as a pretext to gather information on specific individuals residing in the shelters. In other instances, agents presented subpoenas or administrative warrants, documents that do not legally grant them access to shelter facilities. While judicial warrants were presented on two occasions, resulting in one arrest, the report suggests a broader pattern of questionable entry methods.
Further illustrating the audit’s concerns, another incident detailed involved ICE agents entering a Department of Probation (DOP) building in Brooklyn. Their initial request to use the bathroom quickly escalated into an attempt to examine the facility’s sign-in book. City staff intervened, successfully obtaining their identification and escorting them from the premises, thereby preventing further unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Mayor Mamdani, a long-standing critic of ICE and the previous administration’s immigration policies, framed the audit as a crucial step towards ensuring accountability and upholding New York City’s commitment to its immigrant communities. He emphasized the importance of the audit in understanding and responding to the evolving landscape of federal immigration enforcement and reinforcing the rights of all New Yorkers, irrespective of their immigration status. His statement underscored a dedication to strengthening the city’s sanctuary laws and providing robust protections for its residents.
The audit’s findings have sparked discussion about the legality and ethical implications of the tactics employed by federal agents. Impersonating another government agency, even a fellow federal one, to gain entry or information raises serious legal questions, potentially constituting criminal impersonation under state law. The report’s detailed documentation of these alleged transgressions aims to inform policy and practice, ensuring that federal actions align with established legal frameworks and respect the autonomy and safety of city-run facilities and their residents.
The release of this audit represents a significant move by the city to assert its authority and protect its population against what it perceives as overreach by federal agencies. It signifies a commitment to transparency and a call for greater compliance with local laws and protections. Mayor Mamdani’s office has indicated that the audit’s recommendations are intended to bolster these protections and ensure a more lawful and respectful approach to federal immigration enforcement within New York City’s borders. The report, therefore, serves not only as a record of past incidents but also as a roadmap for future interactions between city and federal authorities.