Copyright Newsweek
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has pledged to expand law enforcement hiring and strengthen cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if New York City elects Democrat Zohran Mamdani as mayor next week. “In the unfortunate event of a Mamdani win, [Blakeman] will hire more police officers, increase cooperation with [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and actively encourage people and businesses to move to the safest county in America,” Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle told The New York Post. Newsweek has contacted Blakeman's office, Mamdani's campaign and the Department of Homeland Security for comment via email. Why It Matters Mamdani, a progressive state assemblyman from Queens who won the Democratic nomination for mayor, has been a vocal advocate for limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. His campaign has emphasized affordable housing, free buses, improved child care and immigrant protections. What To Know Blakeman, a Republican and supporter of President Donald Trump, announced in February that 10 county police detectives would be granted the same authority as federal immigration agents, enabling them to work with federal authorities in detaining undocumented immigrants charged with other crimes. Blakeman’s Democratic challenger, former Nassau County legislator Seth Koslow, has pledged to end the arrangement if he defeats the Republican incumbent. Nassau County, located on Long Island just east of New York City, reported relatively low violent crime rates compared to nearby urban centers, according to New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services data. Polling indicates Mamdani is leading the New York City mayoral race. A Patriot Polling survey, conducted October 18-19, shows Mamdani with 43 percent support, with former Governor Andrew Cuomo at 32 percent and Republican Curtis Sliwa at 19 percent. A Gotham Polling survey from October 14-15 reported similar results, with Mamdani at 43 percent, Cuomo at 29 percent and Sliwa at 19 percent. Quinnipiac University’s New York City poll, conducted October 3-7, had Mamdani at 46 percent, Cuomo at 33 percent and Sliwa at 15 percent. If Mamdani wins, he would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor, representing a generational change and a notable shift in the city’s political landscape. Trump has repeatedly attacked Mamdani with false claims suggesting he is in the country illegally and labeled him a communist rather than a socialist. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, has lived in the United States since age 7 and became a naturalized citizen in 2018. What People Are Saying Zohran Mamdani, on The Good Liars podcast: “My message would be that if you ever want to get on the phone to talk about how we can actually deliver on the promise that you made to the American people of lowering the cost of living, I’m always ready. But if you want to speak about how you can make life more difficult for New Yorkers, by coming after so many in this city and the fabric of the city itself, then I’ll be there to fight you.” President Donald Trump, on July 1: "Look, we don't need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I'm going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation." New York state Senator Steven Rhoads told Newsweek in February: "Nassau County is the safest county in America because our leaders do not allow politics to get in the way of local law enforcement working with their partners to actually enforce the law and help keep our citizens safe." What Happens Next The New York City mayoral election is November 4 and the winner will take office in January.
