Viral rumors falsely claim that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned Border Czar Tom Homan that he and his agents were unwelcome in the city.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A rumor circulating across social media alleges that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confronted Border Czar Tom Homan, warning him that federal agents are not welcome in the five boroughs. Given Mamdani’s well-known opposition to aggressive federal immigration policies, the claim quickly drew widespread attention and warranted a closer look.
The Rumor: A Supposed Confrontation Between Mamdani and Homan
🚨ZOHRAN MAMDANI JUST THREATENED TOM HOMAN — “YOU AND YOUR GOONS AREN’T WELCOME IN NEW YORK CITY”… IT DIDN’T GO WELL!
Poor little Zohran thought being mayor meant he could order around the United States Border Czar.
Mamdani told Tom Homan that he… pic.twitter.com/aflFohiw4u
— John McAfee 🇺🇸 News (@mcafeenew) August 13, 2026
According to a widely shared post on X published in mid-August, Mamdani allegedly delivered the ultimatum to Tom Homan, telling him that federal personnel “aren’t welcome in New York City.”
The post further claimed that Homan shot back with a warning of his own: “Keep out of our way, and you won’t be on the news in handcuffs.”
The exchange sparked polarized reactions online. While some users praised the mayor for standing up to federal enforcement, others criticized him and voiced support for Homan’s purported response.
Accumulating tens of thousands of views, the post prompted many users to question its legitimacy and demand proof of the alleged altercation.
Fact Check: The Exchange Never Happened
Thorough investigation reveals that no such verbal sparring match ever occurred between the mayor and the border czar. Consequently, the viral claim has been rated completely false.
A comprehensive search across major search engines, mainstream news outlets, and official public records produced zero evidence to support the story.
Given the high-profile nature of Mamdani’s frequent friction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the immigration directives of President Donald Trump‘s administration, a direct clash of this magnitude would have been heavily covered by the media.
Additionally, the X account responsible for spreading the rumor—operating under the moniker ‘John McAfee News’—has a history of publishing fabricated or heavily exaggerated claims designed to maximize online engagement.
Mamdani’s Actual Stance on ICE
While the reported confrontation is entirely fictional, Mamdani has been vocal about his opposition to federal immigration enforcement practices. Earlier this year, he publicly advocated for the complete dismantling of ICE, asserting that the agency is beyond reform.
“This is partially why I have put forward a vision alongside so many others to say that ICE should be abolished, that there is no way to reform this kind of cruelty that we’re seeing endemic in the way that immigration is being enforced across the country,” Mamdani stated.
Defending New York City’s local policies, he added, “When it comes to our city, we are proud of our sanctuary city policies. We are proud of the policies we’ve put forward and also the executive orders we’ve put forward to ensure that every single agency is complying with those policies.”