Mamdani should open his mayor’s mansion to illegal immigrants

OPINION:

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani put out a video over the weekend advising illegal immigrants how to evade ICE and how to avoid deportation and how to, as he put it, “stand up” to federal agents. “Know your rights,” he said. “As mayor, I’ll protect the rights of every single New Yorker,” he said. “And that includes the more than 3 million immigrants who call this city their home,” he said.

Fantastic.

So to those 3 million and maybe even more, who Mamdani oh so wants to protect from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — write this down: East 88th Street and East End Avenue, Carl Schurz Park, Manhattan.

That’s to be Mamdani’s new address. It’s called Gracie Mansion. It’s where the mayor of New York City officially resides. And he didn’t say, but he did imply — the welcome mat for illegals has been ordered and will soon be placed outside the front door. So all ye illegals everywhere: Hurry and beat the crowd. It’s a large residence, but not 3-million large. 

Not in my backyard?

Not in my home?

Well, the beauty of Gracie Mansion is that Mamdani doesn’t own it. Private property rights don’t truly apply.

It’s owned by the city; it’s a listed landmark of the Historic House Trust of New York City and, as such, receives some public funding, particularly for maintenance and security operations. Admittedly, the residence isn’t 100 percent taxpayer-funded; the Gracie Mansion Conservancy nonprofit oversees its renovations and day-to-day tourist operations and also holds special and revenue-raising activities and events at the home; in particular, at the Susan E. Wagner wing that was constructed in 1966. But it’s a public-private partnership, meaning John Q. Taxpayer has a right to decide how the home is utilized.

And Mamdani, as a socialist, should happily consent to share.  

“We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights,” Mamdani said in a video to illegals, as he stood in front of a chart with the phrase “Know your rights” written across it, Newsmax reported. 

“ICE cannot enter into private spaces like your home, school or private area of your workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” Mamdani said, holding up an example of a warrant.

“You have the right to say, ‘I do not consent to entry,’ and the right to keep your door closed,” Mamdani said.

He also told illegals of their rights to remain silent, their rights to videotape ICE, their rights to demand an answer to the question, ‘Am I free to go?’ — all while promising that “as mayor, I’ll protect the rights of every single New Yorker.”

Nothing says leader like a leader who goes first.

If Mamdani wants the good people of America to open borders wide to illegals, then Mamdani ought to show himself as a leader and take the first step by opening his own residence, tax-and-charitably funded as it is, to illegals and giving them a home. 

That’d be the most socialist thing to do.

• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.