Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the Executive Order 13 Report of Audit Findings and Recommendations . In February, Mayor Mamdani signed Executive Order 13 to mandate a citywide audit of policies and protocols governing interactions between City agencies and federal immigration authorities. In the coming months, the City will implement recommendations from the audit to strengthen protections for immigrant New Yorkers.
"New York City is home to immigrants from every corner of the world, and no one should live in fear because of their status," said Mayor Mamdani. "This audit was a critical step towards strengthening compliance with our local laws and reinforcing New York City's protections for immigrant communities. I am proud to share key findings and recommendations from the audit that will ensure that we are responding to the changing nature of federal immigration enforcement and protecting the rights of all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status."
"Safeguarding the safety, rights, and dignity of immigrant New Yorkers, especially against abusive immigration enforcement practices, is paramount," said Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Faiza N. Ali. "Executive Order 13 reflects Mayor Mamdani's commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, and protections for our immigrant communities. The findings and recommendations released today will strengthen City agencies' protocols when interacting with federal authorities and ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can safely access the City services they deserve. I look forward to working with our government partners and all stakeholders to implement the changes identified in this audit and bolster our City's support for immigrant New Yorkers."
This report includes key findings and adopted recommendations from the audit submitted to the Mayor by the Administration of Children's Services (ACS), Department of Correction (DOC), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Department of Probation (DOP), Department of Social Services (DSS), New York City Police Department (NYPD) and New York City Health + Hospitals (H+H). New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) also initiated an internal review of its policies and protocols independent of the formal audit process.
Among other findings, the multiagency audit revealed that federal immigration authorities have intensified their targeting of City shelters, sharply increased the issuance of detainer requests to DOC and the NYPD, and employed increasingly aggressive and misleading tactics.
The audit found that local laws and agency protocols have largely worked as intended to protect the rights of all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status. At the same time, the audit identified areas where City policies and protocols must be strengthened to respond to the changing landscape of federal immigration enforcement.
Examples of agency-specific recommendations adopted by the Mayor include the following:
- ACS will strengthen its practice of reviewing determinations for seeking orders of protection, if the safety of the children and/or caregiver can be met otherwise, when there are potential negative immigration consequences for the parent.
- DSS will revise protocols and training on access to City property and lots, drawing from lessons learned through the audit of incidents of unauthorized ICE entry in 2025.
- NYPD will establish a protocol requiring that the Communications Division notify Operations of any 911 calls related to the presence of federal immigration authorities or immigration matters. Operations will notify Department leadership and a Legal Bureau executive. A patrol executive will be sent to the scene. NYPD will also track these requests.
- H+H will develop materials, policy, and/or guidance that addresses protocols for when ICE brings an individual to H+H facilities for medical care.
The Interagency Response Committee, chaired by the First Deputy Mayor, in consultation with the Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall, the Special Advisor for Strategic Coordination and Operations to the First Deputy Mayor and the Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, with support from the Corporation Counsel and the Law Department, will issue updated citywide guidance and work closely with agencies to implement these policy and protocol changes.
