New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he pressed President Donald Trump on the status of Haitian immigrants in the US during a meeting at Gracie Mansion.
Discussions on Immigration and Development Initiatives
During their third face-to-face meeting on Monday, Mayor Mamdani and President Trump engaged in what Mamdani described as a “productive” conversation regarding immigration issues affecting vulnerable communities in the city. Addressing the press, Mamdani emphasized the importance of stability for these communities, stating, “We’re talking about something that can either deliver or deny stability in their lives.”
The meeting comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians residing in the U.S., a move that has left many at risk of deportation. While Trump acknowledged that immigration was raised during their discussion, he did not make any commitments regarding the issue, only expressing a general concern for supporting individuals in need: “I feel strongly about taking care of people.”
In addition to immigration, the two leaders agreed to initiate technical discussions between City Hall and the White House concerning a proposed development project over a rail yard. This project aims to create approximately 12,000 homes and generate 30,000 jobs, with Mamdani noting that it would require over $21 billion in federal grants for financing and authorization.
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security said more than 2,100 immigrants were arrested in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and upstate counties in a monthlong operation. Mamdani is a prominent face of a new wave of self-described democratic socialists who have won key primary races in a push to reshape the Democratic Party. Trump has targeted those candidates in a bid to rally Republican voters ahead of November, casting their Democratic rivals as too extreme. Republicans face an uphill climb to retain control of Congress with polls showing voters unhappy with high costs of living and Trump’s handling of the Iran war. The mayor has also strengthened protections for migrants as the Trump administration ramps up its deportation campaign.
