Mamdani, Schumer, Jeffries ask NYC lot owners to keep ICE off property

What happened

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and dozens of other elected officials signed a letter on Friday asking owners and operators of parking lots and garages across the five boroughs not to rent, lend or otherwise make their properties available to ICE as staging grounds for enforcement operations. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries were among the signers, The Real Deal reported on Oct. 17. The letter notes that many New Yorkers who rely on those facilities are immigrants.

The push follows a shooting last week in Marble Hill. Federal immigration officers dressed as construction workers approached and shot Oscar Belgal while his five-year-old son sat in the same car. Before the shooting, local lawmakers had spent weeks raising concerns about ICE staging in a parking lot at The Shops at Marble Hill. That lot is owned by developer Kingsbridge Associates and Target. ICE has also used two bank parking lots in Queens and a garage in Manhattan. The Manhattan garage owner has already removed ICE vehicles. According to the letter, the city has already restricted ICE use of city-owned property.

Council member Pierina Sanchez, who represents part of Marble Hill, said Kingsbridge told her it did not know about the activity and would look into getting ICE off the lot. She said Target, the other owner, has said nothing about its future approach. A Target spokesperson said the company has no cooperative agreements with ICE. Paul Travis, president of Washington Square Partners, which owns Kingsbridge, said management did not authorize ICE or other federal enforcement activity at the center and that the parking areas are for customers.

Sanchez acknowledged the city's powers and leverage are limited. She said tax credits and subsidies the city gives to companies should be looked at so they align with the city's values. She noted the city cooperates with federal authorities in cases involving 170 serious crimes, but not for civil immigration enforcement.