White House blames NYC mayor-elect’s rhetoric for surge in violence against immigration officers

Washington: The White House has issued a sharp rebuke against New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani following the release of a video in which he encouraged immigrants to "stand up to ICE". Officials warned that such public messaging is fueling a dramatic escalation in harassment and violence targeting federal immigration officers.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, stated that the Trump administration is gravely concerned regarding the physical threats faced by agents. Describing the situation as an alarming escalation, Leavitt noted that the agency has witnessed "more than a 1,000 per cent increase in violent attacks on them and their families".

According to the Press Secretary, officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been subjected to doxing, harassment, and physical assault while attempting to carry out their duties. She emphasised that these agents are merely "enforcing our nation’s immigration laws".

When questioned whether New York’s political messaging might be inspiring residents to actively resist enforcement operations, Leavitt said the administration "condemns that wholeheartedly". She affirmed that federal authorities will continue their mission across every state to remove "illegal aliens and public safety threats from American communities".

These remarks come as President Trump declares the US border environment to be the "most secure" in the nation’s history, citing record-low encounter figures. Leavitt reported that for the seventh consecutive month, the US Border Patrol has released zero undocumented individuals into the United States.

Contrasting current figures with the previous administration, Leavitt claimed: "In ten months under President Trump, we’ve seen less apprehensions overall than we saw in one month under Joe Biden."

While the administration’s focus on strict enforcement and deterrence has found support in various regions, it has simultaneously inflamed tensions in major metropolitan hubs like New York. These cities are home to significant immigrant populations, including thousands of Indian nationals.

Leavitt insisted that President Trump has successfully restored "sovereignty" at the border, characterising the shift as "the single greatest and fastest national security victory in modern American history". She described the continued decline in unlawful crossings as remarkable.

Immigration enforcement remains a deeply polarising issue within US politics, with successive administrations struggling to balance humanitarian concerns against national security mandates.

(Inputs from IANS)