New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would not budge on enforcing sanctuary city laws, even as Homeland Security Officials descended on New York to demand more cooperation.   Here are five takeaways from The Mayor’s conversation with News 4’s Government Affairs Reporter Melissa Russo in the City Hall Blue Room.  Mamdani defends his use of the term “murder” to describe the ICE shooting in Minneapolis On Thursday, Homeland Security officials criticized Mayor Mamdani’s social media post stating that an ICE agent had “murdered” a woman in Minneapolis. “I think that it was appropriate.  I think that it’s factual,” Mamdani said, when asked whether the use of the term had been premature or inappropriate.  “I think that if anyone watches that video, they will come away from it with the same conclusion, no matter how it’s being  mischaracterized by those in the federal administration.”  NBC New York Mamdani said he would not shy away from using similar terminology in a hypothetical NYPD shooting Asked whether he would be more careful with his words if a similar incident happened with the NYPD under his watch, Mayor Mamdani told Russo, “I think that we always have to be honest about what it is that we’re seeing.”  Mayor says his relationship with Trump is still intact despite tensions, ICE shooting controversy  Mamdani described his relationship with President Donald Trump as “honest and productive,” despite criticism leveled during a visit to New York City Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem told reporters that “DHS communications have not been productive with the mayor’s office or with NYPD.”  Russo asked the mayor what Noem was referring to and whether he had denied or disapproved of any requests. “They haven’t asked me anything directly,” Mamdani said.  “But I have instructed my entire city government to follow the law. Not to view that law as a suggestion, but rather as a requirement. And that means that we do not allow for ICE agents to enter into New York City schools or city properties unless they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge.”  NBC New York Mamdani: “My NYPD” won’t ignore city’s sanctuary status Asked whether other members of his administration had received or denied any specific requests from DHS since they took office, Mayor Mamdani did not elaborate, other than to say he instructed his police department to hold the line. “The conversations they have with the NYPD are the conversations they have with them.  But I can tell you… that I’ve instructed my NYPD to be very firm about its adherence to the sanctuary city policies, which hasn’t always been the case here in New York City,” Mamdani said, an apparent reference to his predecessor, Mayor Eric Adams. Adams said he thought local laws should allow for more collaboration with the federal government to deport criminals, but denied colluding with Trump to circumvent them.   Mayor said it was “exciting” to roll out the first phase of his universal child care campaign promise, fully funded by Governor Kathy Hochul Mamdani spoke with NBC New York hours after he and his fellow Democrat, Gov. Kathy Hochul, announced the creation of the “2-Care” program.  The joint plan would phase in free child care for New York City two-year-olds over the next four years.   “One of the most exciting things, frankly, is that now that I am in office, it means we’re actually able to deliver,” he said.    Mamdani promises 2,000 two-year-old slots in year one in high-need areas, which he did not identify.  According to Mamdani, “2-Care” would expand to 12,000 slots in year 2 and roughly 36,000 slots by year 4.  While Hochul committed $1.7 billion per year for the first two years of “2-Care,” she did not say where the money would come from. She did specify, however, that the source would not be taxing the rich. Mamdani, who lobbied to fund the plan with tax increases, told Russo the governor’s refusal to raise taxes would not impact the rollout of universal child care in New York. ...read more read less