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Mamdani says NYC won’t check immigration status for universal childcare

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that the city will not check the immigration status of children enrolled in his administration’s universal pre-K and 3-K programs.

“To put it very clearly, these are programs for every New Yorker,” Mamdani, who took office at the beginning of the year, said during a media roundtable discussion. “These are not programs that will ask about the immigration status of any of the children.

“These kids are all New Yorkers. It doesn’t matter where they were born or where they come from, they should all be enrolled in 3-K and pre-K. And we’re proud to be a sanctuary city, too.”

That means ICE agents are denied access to schools, hospitals and city property, he said, “unless those ICE agents can provide a criminal warrant signed by a judge. We know that the vast majority of ICE agents do not provide that type of documentation. If they do provide any type of documentation, it tends to be an administrative warrant. And oftentimes no documentation is provided.”

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that the city will not check the immigration status of children enrolled in his administration’s universal pre-K and 3-K programs. (Mayor Zohran Mamdani)

The mayor previously stated that the program is open to all New Yorkers whose children will turn 3 or 4 in 2026, adding that the program could save New Yorkers tens of thousands of dollars a year by “providing free child care.”

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Mamdani greets students at a New York City school in December. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Mamdani added: “We want to clarify the rights that every New Yorker has in this city. This program is made available to everyone, and because we’re proud of our values, we’re proud of our laws. They keep us safe and are also an integral part of who we are.”

Mamdani made the statement after a reporter asked what the city would do to protect families from ICE agents.