Landlords Using ICE Threats as an Eviction Tool
Gothamist published a report on April 20, 2026 detailing a pattern of NYC landlords threatening to report their own tenants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The goal: force tenants out of rent-stabilized apartments, pressure them into accepting illegal rent increases, or retaliate during ordinary tenant disputes.
The advocacy organization Make the Road New York presented multiple specific cases to the NYC Council during a public hearing. In one November incident, a Bushwick landlord allegedly told a tenant they had 10 days to vacate or the landlord would contact ICE, despite never having initiated formal eviction proceedings. In a December case, a Queens landlord allegedly threatened the same action if the tenant refused to pay an additional $1,000 per month.
What the Law Actually Says
Under the NYC Human Rights Law, it is explicitly illegal for a landlord to threaten a tenant with deportation, contact ICE or report a tenant to immigration authorities as a coercive tactic, require proof of citizenship documentation as a rental requirement, or retaliate against a tenant who complains about discrimination.
Violations can carry civil penalties of up to $250,000. The NYC Commission on Human Rights has authority to investigate complaints and pursue enforcement actions.
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