New York City Appoints Immigrant Affairs Chief to Enforce Sanctuary Laws

Mayor Mamdani taps long-time ally Faiza Ali to lead efforts to protect immigrant rights and services

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Faiza Ali, a former City Council staffer and activist, as the new Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. Ali, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, will be tasked with ensuring the city's sanctuary policies are enforced and that immigrant New Yorkers are protected from federal immigration crackdowns.

Why it matters

New York City has long positioned itself as a sanctuary city, limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. However, the city has faced legal challenges from the Trump administration over these policies. The appointment of Ali signals the Mamdani administration's commitment to doubling down on these sanctuary protections, even as the federal government continues to pressure the city to cooperate more with immigration enforcement.

The details

As the new Immigrant Affairs Commissioner, Ali will oversee audits of key city agencies like the NYPD and Department of Correction to ensure they are not violating the city's sanctuary policies by sharing information or cooperating with federal immigration agents. Mamdani has also signed an executive order barring federal agents from entering city property without a warrant. Ali, who has a background in community organizing and city government, will be tasked with expanding access to services and defending the rights of immigrant New Yorkers.

  • Mamdani signed the executive order on sanctuary policies in January 2026.
  • The U.S. Department of Justice sued New York City over its sanctuary policies in July 2025, with the outcome of that legal challenge still pending.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who appointed Faiza Ali to lead the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs and has taken steps to strengthen the city's sanctuary policies.

Faiza Ali

A long-time political ally of Mayor Mamdani who has been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. Ali is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and has a background in community organizing and city government.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that sued New York City in 2025 over its sanctuary policies, accusing the city of shielding wanted criminals from deportation proceedings.

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What they’re saying

“At a time when immigrant New Yorkers face escalating attacks and uncertainty, this administration will not equivocate. We will defend our neighbors. We will expand access to services. And we will ensure that New York City remains a place where immigrants are not merely welcomed in words, but protected in policy, supported in practice, and able to live and work with the dignity they deserve.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (The Black Chronicle)

“Our neighborhoods, our economy, our culture, and our future are shaped by people who arrived here seeking safety and opportunity. As Commissioner, I am committed to building a city that ensures every New Yorker, regardless of when they arrived or where they were born, can live, work, and raise families with dignity.”

— Faiza Ali, Commissioner, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (The Black Chronicle)

What’s next

The outcome of the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit against New York City over its sanctuary policies is still pending, and will likely have significant implications for how the city is able to enforce its protections for immigrant residents.

The takeaway

New York City's appointment of Faiza Ali, a seasoned community organizer and advocate, to lead its Immigrant Affairs office signals the Mamdani administration's unwavering commitment to maintaining the city's status as a sanctuary for immigrant New Yorkers, even in the face of continued legal challenges from the federal government.