Arya Sundaram
@arya_sundaram
race + migration in NYC @wnyc @gothamist • words also in: @nytimes @nymag @guardian @TheAtlantic • 512-650-8767 signal/whatsapp
NEW: Immigrants complain of inhumane conditions at ICE holding cells in NYC. No showers or changing clothes. Sometimes only one meal per day. Over 100 people in small rooms. Sleeping on benches, the floor, or sitting up, due to lack of space. gothamist.com/news/theyre-ki…
🚨NEW🚨 Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic Primary for NYC Mayor. For @nytopinion I wrote about Mamdani’s historic coalition of the in-between: working, middle, and upper-middle-class renters spanning white, Hispanic and Asian neighborhoods. nyti.ms/4lqrfAZ
NYC Immigration Arrests Just Shot Through the Roof, New Data Shows thecity.nyc/2025/07/14/ice… via @THECITYNY
About to join @BrianLehrer to talk about conditions at ICE holding rooms in Lower Manhattan. Listen in live at the link below. wnyc.org/radio/
“Immigrants without criminal backgrounds have been among the fastest-growing groups of ICE detainees. Less than a third, 28.5%, of ICE detainees are convicted criminals. Another quarter have pending criminal charges and the rest have no criminal histories.”gothamist.com/news/theyre-ki…
*Which many people don't know! Immigration court hearings are open to the public. If anyone wants to learn more about how the immigration system works in this country - or often doesn't - there are few better ways than attending immigration court hearings.
"Come witness for yourself" @bradlander urges New Yorkers and electeds to observe immigration court hearings at 26 Federal Plaza.
"Come witness for yourself" @bradlander urges New Yorkers and electeds to observe immigration court hearings at 26 Federal Plaza.
More in depth income analysis of last night's election results: Cuomo does best in richest and poorest districts (approx 50k-, 250k+) Mamdani's strength is in the middle.
It's actually a bit more mixed than this makes out. Cuomo's coalition is of the very poorest and very richest
Cuomo fared better in lower-income and Black neighborhoods, Mamdani in middle/high income and college-educated, renter-dominated white, and esp Asian and Hispanic neighborhoods
NEW: The Neighborhoods and Groups That Drove Mamdani’s Seismic Win in the N.Y.C. Primary Pretty fascinating dive with the amazing @collinskeith nytimes.com/interactive/20…
Could have been predicted but Zohran's win now fueling anti-immigrant sentiment on the right
On the second, extremists are now working overtime to exploit the mayoral race to fuel hate — including against Muslim, Arab, immigrant, and other communities (which of course also connects with and fuels antisemitism - e.g. the Great Replacement).
Perhaps notable: the meat of the primary was bookended by dramatic anti-Trump moments focused on immigration enforcement: 1) Just as Cuomo was getting into the race, Mamdani went viral yelling at Tom Homan in Albany, showing fight & energy that would characterize his campaign.
Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil welcomed home to NYC after his release on bail (via @arya_sundaram for @Gothamist) gothamist.com/news/pro-pales…
NYC: After Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander was arrested by ICE and released hours later, he is now back at Immigration courts, there to escort migrants past ICE agents.
BREAKING: Brad Lander has been released from ICE custody. Walked out with governor Hochul from NYC Federal Court
OH MY
SEE WHO and WHERE people are VOTING EARLY! Early voting in NYC mayor's race doubles from 2021. Young people are driving the trend. gothamist.com/news/early-vot… via @gothamist
Kaz Daughtry, deputy mayor, "played an important role in planning massive raids on city-funded hotels housing thousands of migrants in Midtown Manhattan, only to see them aborted at the last minute." via @WRashbaum @danarubinstein @Jonesieman nytimes.com/2025/06/18/nyr…
Reps. Nadler and Goldman barred from inspecting ICE holding cells in NYC (via @arya_sundaram for @gothamist) gothamist.com/news/reps-nadl…