Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to appoint to select the ex-chief of staff for former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to serve as NYC’s chief immigration officer, sources said.
Faiza Ali – who worked with Mamdani on the Muslim Democratic Club of New York board – will be appointed commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, according to sources.
“At a time when immigrants are facing escalated and unprecedented attacks, we will prioritize strengthening protections, expanding access to legal and language services, and building real pathways to stability for New York City’s diverse immigrant communities,” Ali said in a statement to Gothamist after the news broke.
She was the first Muslim woman to hold a first deputy chief of staff position with the City Council, according to the outlet, and has served several of the city’s Muslim-American organizations throughout her career – including time as community affairs director for the controversial activist group Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Her time with CAIR is likely to stir controversy, as the organization’s executive director notably celebrated Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, calling the Jewish state an “occupying power” and saying Gaza was “breaking the siege.”
That director later said his words were taken out of context, according to Fox News.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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