New York City Mayor Mamdani has pledged to resist a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that permits the federal government to end deportation protections for Haitian and Syrian migrants residing in the United States. The June 25 decision, passed by a 6-3 majority, held that the “temporary protected status” (TPS) statutes do not allow for judicial review, effectively barring lower courts from intervening in the Trump administration’s plans to terminate TPS protections for over 350,000 Haitians and more than 6,000 Syrians.

Following the ruling, Mayor Mamdani released a video statement condemning the court’s decision as “cruel” and vowed that New York City would not accept the loss of protections for these immigrant communities. He emphasized the personal and communal impact of the ruling, highlighting that it disproportionately affects New York’s Haitian and Syrian populations, which number approximately 115,000 and 12,000 respectively. "This decision will cause enormous pain across the five boroughs," Mamdani said, adding that the city would stand firmly with affected migrants.

In his response, Mamdani joined a coalition of immigration advocates, New York Governor Hochul, and State Attorney General Letitia James in expressing opposition to the ruling. City Hall announced that the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs would soon provide additional resources and information to those impacted. The mayor reiterated New York City’s commitment to its sanctuary policies, which largely prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities in deportation cases without proper legal procedures.

Since taking office in January, Mayor Mamdani has strengthened the city’s sanctuary protections. In February, he signed an executive order that reinforced prohibitions against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entering city-operated properties, such as public schools, homeless shelters, and hospitals, without a judicial warrant. The order also initiated audits of city agencies to ensure compliance with sanctuary laws and mandated enhanced training for city workers regarding immigrant rights and protections.

TPS has been granted to Syrians since 2012 due to the ongoing civil conflict, and to Haitians since 2010 following the devastating earthquake that struck the island. The Trump administration previously ended TPS designation for Venezuelan migrants after a similar Supreme Court ruling, signaling a broader federal effort to roll back temporary immigration protections.

While the mayor and local officials vow to protect immigrant residents, the Supreme Court ruling upholds the executive branch’s authority to terminate TPS without judicial oversight, maintaining federal control over immigration policy decisions in this area. The decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing national debate over immigration policy and protections for vulnerable populations.