NYC Mayor Appoints Former CAIR Staffer as Chief Immigration Officer

Faiza Ali, a former Council on American-Islamic Relations employee, has been named New York City's new Chief Immigration Officer.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Faiza Ali, a former staffer for the controversial Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) organization, as the city's new Chief Immigration Officer. CAIR has faced years of terrorism-related controversy and federal scrutiny, with some states designating it as a foreign terrorist organization.

Why it matters

The appointment of a former CAIR employee to a high-profile city government role is raising concerns among some critics who view CAIR as an organization with ties to extremist groups. This move signals the direction the Mamdani administration plans to take on immigration policy in New York City.

The details

Faiza Ali previously served as deputy chief of staff to former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and has over a decade of experience in religious-based activism. Her resume includes time working as the community affairs director at CAIR, which has faced allegations of connections to terror groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR's leadership has also drawn criticism for statements made following terrorist attacks and for its history of antisemitic rhetoric.

  • In 2025, the governors of Texas and Florida designated CAIR a foreign terrorist organization at the state level.
  • The FBI formally severed outreach and cooperation with CAIR in the past due to unresolved evidence linking it to Hamas.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who appointed Faiza Ali as the city's new Chief Immigration Officer.

Faiza Ali

The new Chief Immigration Officer for New York City, who previously worked as the community affairs director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

CAIR

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a controversial Muslim civil rights organization that has faced allegations of connections to terror groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

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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.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (NY Post)

The takeaway

The appointment of a former CAIR employee to a high-ranking city government position is likely to heighten concerns about the Mamdani administration's approach to immigration policy and its willingness to work with organizations that have faced scrutiny over alleged ties to extremist groups.