New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is under fire online after defending six-year-old Yuanxin Zheng, a Chinese immigrant who was recently detained and separated from his father, Fei Zheng, sparking widespread outrage.
Mamdani took to X and wrote, “It’s been two weeks since ICE took Yuanxin Zheng from his father. He is six years old. He’s still not home. This has to end.” The pushback escalated quickly, with comment threads filling up as users accused Mamdani of supporting both legal and illegal immigration. Many argued that his stance on the Zheng case reflects a broader pattern in his politics.
One of the users wrote, “What has to end is Mamdani pandering to illegals.” While another commented, “Yes indeed – illegal migration does have to end. And so does your support for it.”
Meanwhile, another user wrote, “You are not law abiding. You are an Islamic Communist. You have been installed by nefarious people who want to transform America into an Islamic Country! We don’t care about your radical opinions. We are not the same.”
Many of the users urged for Mamdani’s deportation as well. “You gotta go too”, one commented. Another user also wrote, “Yes, it will end when we are done deporting all the foreigners. That includes you.” Adding to the momentum for his deportation, one wrote, I can’t wait till you are removed from our country.”
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On the other hand, one of the users called out NYC Mayor elect, saying, “Mamdani where is the free rent? 🤔 stop playing with people’s emotions,” another joined in, “Does this really reflect the overall safety of your constituents? Or is this just to pull on heart strings?”
So, what exactly is the case at the center of the backlash Mamdani is facing? On Sunday, hundreds of community members gathered at a playground in Astoria to call for the release and reunification of a Chinese father and son who were taken into federal custody and then separated.
According to activists, Fei Zheng and his six-year-old son, Yuanxin, were detained during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) check-in at Federal Plaza on Nov. 26. Not long after, the two were split up: Fei Zheng was transferred to a detention facility in Orange County, New York, while Yuanxin was placed under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The agency confirmed that the child is staying at one of its shelters, though the location has not been disclosed.
At the rally in Playground 35, at the corner of Steinway Street and 35th Avenue, several local leaders stepped up to speak. Among them was U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
“No child, especially who is just 6 years old, should be ripped from their parents as part of immigration enforcement,” the long-time congresswoman said, “and family separation should never be used as leverage to force deportation.”
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The Chinese immigrant father-and-son duo first crossed the southern border without authorization in April and immediately sought asylum. They were held for several weeks in a family detention facility in Texas before being released at the end of June. After that, they made their way to New York City and stayed in a shelter in Queens.
Their immigration journey has been turbulent ever since. The pair were taken into custody again during an ICE check-in in August and later released on year-long parole on Oct. 24. Their latest detention in November is the third time they have been picked up by authorities since arriving in the United States this spring.
In response to growing public pressure, federal officials pushed back on claims that the government was responsible for splitting up the family. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, said in an emailed statement that “ICE does not separate families.”
She went on to add, “Mr. Zheng had the right and the ability to depart the country as a family and wilfully chose not to comply.”
Mamdani, who still represents Astoria in the state Assembly until he formally takes office as mayor, weighed in on the situation last Tuesday. On X, he spoke out against the detention of Yuanxin Feng, calling it, “This cruelty serves no one.” Mamdani said, “It must end.”
1 Comment
You’re telling me that there are Na zis on the Na zi app??