New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Friday that “everyone” can apply for the free child care programme, expanding benefits to immigrants’ children. This comes amid an intensified crackdown on immigrants by ICE. 

Mamdani has been a vocal critic of the anti-immigrant rhetoric, has said that his administration is “proud” that New York City is an “immigrant city.” At roundtable  to build awareness about the child care program, Mamdani announced that the New York administration won’t check immigration status for universal child care enrollees.