An October shooting by federal immigration officers in New York City has led to a head-turning show of unity from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Why it matters: This unlikely collaboration between leaders of Democrats' competing establishment and progressive wings shows how opposing Trump-era immigration enforcement has become an area of party consensus.
- Democrats "are definitely unified across the spectrum re ICE," Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the chair of the Queens Democratic Party and a close ally of Jeffries, told Axios.
- He added that "the Mayor has also reached out ... to me in regards to local issues and I believe Leader Jeffries is also indicating he wants to work with the NY Congressional delegation."
Driving the news: Mamdani led a letter dated Oct. 16 with over 100 other Democratic elected officials in New York City, including every Democratic member of the city's congressional delegation, to parking lot and garage owners.
- "In solidarity with immigrant New Yorkers and in our shared commitment to the City we love, we ask that you do not rent, lend, or otherwise make your property available to ICE as a staging area for its enforcement operations," the letter reads.
- The officials argued that the shooting of 28-year-old Oscar Belgal in New York's Marble Hill neighborhood in early October was "not an isolated case," pointing to past instances in Queens and Manhattan.
- "Owners who refuse to take part in these federal civil immigration enforcement operations advance public safety by protecting their own staff and customers, as well as fellow New Yorkers beyond their lots and garages."
Between the lines: Jeffries and Mamdani have walked a careful line as two of the most prominent national figures within their respective Democratic Party factions.
- Jeffries rankled the left, including some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, by waiting until 11 days before last year's election to endorse Mamdani for mayor.
- The two came into conflict this summer when Jeffries supported Democratic Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat while Mamdani campaigned hard for their primary challengers, though the Democratic leader notably downplayed the clash.
Yes, but: The two have also had other notable moments of accord, such as when Mamdani opposed City Councilmember Chi Ossé's ultimately aborted plan to try to primary Jeffries from the left.
- They also appeared together at a ribbon-cutting for a housing development in Brooklyn on Thursday.
Zoom out: The letter's signers also include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who accused then-candidate Mamdani last year of making "references to global jihad," for which she later apologized.
- Goldman and Espaillat, who were ultimately unseated by their Mamdani-backed challengers, signed on as well.
- So did retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who was burned by Mamdani endorsing Claire Valdez over her chosen successor, according to the New York Times.
What we're hearing: "It's significant to see Mayor Mamdani lead a letter like this that includes both U.S. Senators and the full NYC Democratic House delegation (including the two he opposed in this spring's primaries)," a prominent Mamdani ally said in a text message to Axios.
- The person added: "It reflects both how universally hated ICE is by Democrats — and how much work the mayor has done to build bridges."
- The Mamdani ally spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer candid analysis of the delicate relationship between the mayor and the party establishment.
The bottom line: Others argued that Democratic unity around opposing ICE was the overriding factor.
- One Democratic elected official from New York told Axios: "The fact that everyone signed on has more to do with the power of the issue than the power of the Mayor."
- A person in Jeffries' orbit similarly argued that immigration is simply "a unifying issue for Dems," but acknowledged that Mamdani "is consistently reaching out to the delegation to build ties and smooth things since the elections, which is smart."