An ICE recruitment stunt immediately backfires as backlash erupts in Houston and New York over ICE’s gross NYPD offer in an attempt to capitalize on fears over Zohran Mamdani’s win. Yasmin Kahn and Wosny Lambre break it down on The Damage Report.
“Donald Trump has long vowed to target New York City if Zohran Mamdani were elected mayor and went so far as to tell people they “must” vote for Andrew Cuomo on the eve of the election. Three days later, his administration’s first foray into the city is a strategic troll: ICE is attempting to recruit disgruntled members of the NYPD — as well as send a pointed political message in the aftermath of Mamdani’s victory.
On Thursday, the agency’s official X account shared a post asking members of the city’s police force to “join an agency that respects you, your family, and your commitment to serving in law enforcement.” The recruitment attempt clearly attempts to capitalize on fears expressed by critics of Mamdani that many members of the NYPD will choose to leave their posts and the city rather than serve under Mamdani’s administration.
This is not the first time that the Trump administration has made such overtures to local law enforcement. In October, the Associated Press reported that ICE had spent millions of dollars on targeted television advertising across the country, using partisan messaging to recruit police officers employed in sanctuary cities. It was also an effort to meet the White House’s goal of hiring 10,000 new ICE officers by year’s end. Per the outlet, the 30-second ads aired in cities like Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Denver, among others.”
Read more here: ICE Wants NYPD Cops Who Are Mad About Mamdani
