By Trendsetter Tribune 
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani renewed calls to dismantle the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, echoing the “Abolish ICE” rhetoric that gained traction during the Trump administration. Speaking on The View Tuesday, Mamdani said, “I am tired of waking up every day and seeing a new image of someone being dragged out of a car, dragged out of their home, dragged out of their life.”
His comments come amid national outrage over recent ICE operations in Minnesota, including the fatal shooting of a woman during a raid, which have sparked protests across the country. Even some supporters of the Trump administration, like podcaster Joe Rogan, have criticized ICE’s methods, asking, “Are we really going to be the Gestapo?”
Public opinion appears divided. A Quinnipiac University poll this month found that roughly 57% of Americans disapprove of ICE’s enforcement tactics, while a separate Economist/YouGov poll reported that 46% support abolishing the agency—up from 27% in June 2025. Many Americans also favor restrictions on ICE agents wearing masks during arrests.
Critics caution that the “Abolish ICE” message may be politically risky for Democrats. Kate deGruyter of the think tank Third Way suggested that polarizing slogans could backfire, advising instead that Democrats offer concrete plans appealing to voters in battleground states.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, gained national attention for winning the NYC mayoral race, surprising the political establishment by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo. On the show, Mamdani described ICE raids as “cruel” and “inhumane” and called for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, defended ICE’s operations, urging the Department of Homeland Security to “Show the Numbers, Names, and Faces of the violent criminals, and show them NOW.” He also acknowledged that mistakes can happen, stating, “Sometimes ICE is going to be too rough with somebody… they’re going to make a mistake.”
The debate over ICE is intensifying as immigration enforcement becomes a central issue in American politics, with both public opinion and political strategy shaping the national conversation.