Mamdani to appoint former CAIR official as chief immigration officer
Prior to her work in the New York City Council, Faiza Ali also served as advocacy director at the Arab American Association of New York.
(Feb. 17, 2026 / JNS)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to appoint Faiza Ali, a member of the City Council and former staffer for advocacy organizations, as the city’s chief immigration officer, according to Gothamist.
Ali previously worked as the community affairs director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which blamed Israel for Oct. 7 and has a long history of anti-Israel statements. She also served as the advocacy director at the Arab American Association of New York and chief of staff to former City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Ali was also the first Muslim woman to serve as the City Council’s first deputy chief of staff and has long been involved in Muslim-American organizations, including service on the Muslim Democratic Club of New York board alongside Mamdani.
“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 the Gothamist.
https://www.jns.org/mamdani-to-appoint-former-cair-official-as-chief-immigration-officer/
