UMVA has learned that a recent audit of six New York City agencies revealed shocking evidence of federal immigration authorities using aggressive and deceptive tactics to circumvent the city's sanctuary laws.
The audit, which was part of Executive Order 13 issued by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, examined the interactions between the agencies and federal immigration authorities, and made recommendations to close loopholes and blind spots in the city's sanctuary policies.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the audit found that federal immigration authorities have intensified their targeting of city shelters, resulting in a sharp increase in detainer requests to the city's Department of Correction and New York Police Department.
In one instance, personnel with the Department of Homeland Security visited a shelter and initially falsely identified themselves as Fire Department officials, only admitting they were with DHS after a city employee demanded identification.
The audit also revealed that officers from several federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS, the FBI, and the DEA, visited shelters ten times, sometimes in plainclothes, and used tactics such as asking to conduct "wellness checks" on children in order to inquire about specific clients.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the NYPD received 3,672 requests for civil immigration detainers in 2025—a massive spike from just 99 requests the previous year, yet the NYPD did not transfer any individuals to ICE in response to these requests.
The report accused immigration authorities of using aggressive and misleading tactics, including presenting subpoenas or administrative warrants, which do not legally authorize access to shelters.
Mamdani, a vocal opponent of ICE and the Trump administration's immigration agenda, called the audit a "critical step towards strengthening compliance with our local laws and reinforcing New York City’s protections for immigrant communities."
The recommendations in the report include steps to strengthen City agencies' protocols when interacting with federal authorities and ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can safely access the City services they deserve.
The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner, Faiza Ali, stated that "The findings and recommendations released today will strengthen City agencies’ protocols when interacting with federal authorities and ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can safely access the City services they deserve."
In response, the White House urged local officials to work with ICE officers, stating that they "act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities — local officials should work with them, not against them."
