Zohran Mamdani is an immigrant and New York City's First Muslim Mayor

Zohran Mamdani and Al Sharpton/Instagram @zohrankmamdani

New York City lit up in celebration of Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim Mayor. The 34-year-old is also the youngest Mayor-elect to serve in decades.

After his election, the Mayor-elect stated, "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant.” He also stated, “I will no longer be in the shadows...I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this.”

In response to whether or not he will cooperate with ICE in New York City he stated, “What I will continue to do is be someone who will stand up for New Yorkers when Donald Trump is seeking to fulfil his promise to create the single largest deportation force in American history and my NYPD will continue to not be of assistance to ICE whenever they are trying to terrorize New Yorkers across the five boroughs." The upcoming Mayor continued—“I think that it's important to continue a separation between NYPD and ICE, and I think it's important to bring an end to a chapter which Eric Adams said on national TV where he opened the door to civil immigration enforcement,” he added.

Mamdani was born in Uganda. He also lived in South Africa before his family relocated to New York City. His mother is film director, Mira Nair. Mira directed Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala, co-starring Denzel Washington, and Monsoon Wedding.

Mira and Zohran/Instagram@pagliji

Many different cultures in New York reportedly supported Mamdani's campaign and election. Regarding his election, Asif Mahmood told ABC News, "It is going to make a big difference for our people -- South Indians, Muslims, people who are immigrants like me. They will also think … there's a place for them in this country." Mamdani also warned, “My message to ICE agents and to everyone across this city is that everyone will be held to the same standard of the law. If you violate the law, you must be held accountable. And there is, sadly, a sense that is growing across this country that certain people are allowed to violate that law, whether they be the president or whether they be the agents themselves."

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