NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Vows Review of FBI,NYPD Monitoring of Immigration Activists
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pledged to investigate newly revealed reports that the FBI and NYPD monitored a private group chat used by volunteers observing immigration court proceedings,calling the surveillance “deeply troubling.” The disclosures raise serious questions about the scope of law enforcement monitoring of activist groups and the potential chilling effect on vital court observation efforts.
Surveillance Details Emerge
The controversy centers on a “courtwatch” Signal group, utilized by volunteers who monitor public hearings at three federal immigration courts in New York City. According to reporting by The Guardian last week, the FBI accessed the encrypted messaging app and characterized the court watchers as “anarchist violent extremist actors” in a joint report with the NYPD dated August 28.
the CITY confirmed the NYPD’s involvement in the operation, despite Signal’s end-to-end encryption. The FBI indicated it obtained messages through a “sensitive source with excellent access,” suggesting a breach within the group itself.
NYPD Distances Itself, Cites Counterterrorism Investigation
In a statement to amNewYork on Monday, an NYPD spokesperson attempted to distance the department from the report, stating it was not an NYPD document. The department claimed the surveillance was connected to a broader counterterrorism investigation involving potential criminal activities such as weapons training, violence against law enforcement, property damage, and discussions about bomb-making.
Though,the NYPD acknowledged the report underwent review by the 10-member NYPD Handschu Committee,established following lawsuits alleging improper investigation of the Muslim community. This committee, comprised of nine NYPD officials and a civilian representative, oversees investigations into political activity, including terrorism.
Handschu Committee Review confirmed
Attorney Muhammad Faridi, the current civilian representative appointed by Mayor Adams in 2023, stated he reviewed NYPD records and concluded the inquiry met the committee’s guidelines. He indicated the review pertained to a single surveillance subject.
Mamdani Promises Accountability
Speaking at an event in Central Park on Monday, Mamdani stated the reports were “deeply troubling” and vowed to investigate the matter further. He emphasized that such surveillance would not be tolerated under his governance. “That’s something that we’re going to look into,” he said.
Mamdani highlighted the crucial role court observers play,recalling a conversation with a Brooklyn pastor about an immigrant who was able to avoid deportation thanks to the presence of court watchers. “Part of the reason that she was able to go home that day is as of the court watchers who were there,” he shared.
Concerns Over ICE Enforcement Practices
The mayor-elect also addressed growing concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement practices in New York City.He acknowledged the city’s sanctuary laws allow cooperation with federal authorities in cases involving serious crimes, but criticized ICE for prioritizing the detention and deportation of children and individuals whose only offense is their presence in the city.
“What’s giving so many New Yorkers,including myself,a deep amount of concern is that the focus of ICE’s immigration efforts has not been on those serious crimes,” Mamdani stated. “They have,actually,been on children as young as six years old,being detained and deported. They have been on New Yorkers whose crime seems to just be being here in New York City.”
Volunteer court observers have reported an increase in ICE arrests at 26 Federal Plaza, often occurring before scheduled check-in appointments and out of sight of legal counsel and journalists.
Mamdani affirmed his commitment to public safety,but stressed a difference in opinion regarding ICE’s enforcement priorities. The incoming administration’s review of the surveillance practices signals a potential shift in the relationship between local law enforcement and immigration advocacy groups, and a renewed focus on protecting the rights of all New Yorkers.
