Mayor Zohran Mamdani Announces Commissioners for International Affairs and Immigrant Affairs

NEW YORK, NY – TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointments of Ana María Archila as Commissioner of International Affairs and Faiza Ali as Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs.

Archila, a longtime immigrant rights leader and former co-director of the New York Working Families Party (NYWFP), will serve as the city’s chief liaison to the United Nations and the State Department. Ali, who has served in the City Council for over a decade, most recently as the former Speaker’s Deputy Chief of Staff of Community Engagement, will lead the critical Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

The Commissioner for International Affairs is the City’s liaison with the United Nations, U.S. State Department and broader diplomatic community. In leading the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, Archila will advise city agencies on diplomatic matters, welcome foreign diplomats to New York and run leadership development programs like the NYC Junior Ambassadors. As commissioner, Archila will work to ensure New York City remains a welcoming home to the global community.

“New York City has always belonged to the world—a city that immigrants helped build and one strengthened by our many languages and stories. I’m proud to welcome Ana María Archila into this administration to build on that legacy,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Through her leadership at the Working Families Party, she has helped lead a movement that puts working New Yorkers first and demands a government that does the same. She brings moral clarity and a deep commitment to the people who keep this city running. As Commissioner of International Affairs, she’ll continue to do the same as she ensures that the world continues to be welcome in the city we all call home.”

“I’m deeply honored to join Mayor Mamdani’s transformative administration and to imbue into the Office of International Affairs his commitment to make New York a place where everyone can live with dignity,” said Ana María Archila. “New York City is where diplomats gather, and it’s also the home to millions of working-class New Yorkers from across the world, with hundreds of nationalities represented and languages spoken. In New York City, international relationships are built at the United Nations and across the five boroughs. I am excited to apply my 20-plus years of experience leading immigrant rights and economic justice organizations to the task of building strong relationships with diplomatic missions, governments and movements working to tackle the challenges of inequality, climate change and democratic backsliding.”

“Diplomacy is the work of building intentional networks at an international scale, to improve lives. It’s organizing that Ana María Archila is built for,” said Patrick Gaspard, former United States Ambassador to South Africa and Distinguished Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “Ana María has been a frontline leader on the transnational challenges of the day — immigration, climate change, growing economic disparity. And at a time when our alliances have been jeopardized and our values compromised, Mayor Mamdani has made an inspiring choice for this global city of a leader with a proven record of finding common ground for progress.”

“Ana María Archila’s appointment as New York City’s next Commissioner of International Affairs is testament to a career dedicated to bridging community needs with services, programs and policies at the city, state and federal levels,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition. “She has spent more than twenty years fighting for the rights and dignity of working people here in New York City, as a nonprofit executive, as well as a board member for numerous organizations including our own. We can’t think of a stronger advocate for all New Yorkers on the global stage than Archila.”

“Today, we celebrate the appointment of Ana María Archila as New York City’s Commissioner of International Affairs. Ana María began her journey as an organizer at Make the Road New York and spent more than two decades building power alongside immigrant, working‑class, and LGBTQ+ communities. To see one of our own caminantes step into this role fills us with immense pride. At a moment when the federal government continues to villainize immigrants, Ana María’s leadership could not be more urgently needed. We are confident that she will help shape an office deeply committed to uplifting and celebrating international workers — the very people who keep this city vibrant, strong, and moving forward,” said Jose Lopez, Co-Executive Director, Make the Road NY.

“Ana María Archila’s appointment as International Affairs Commissioner is welcomed news to our community. She has always led with courage and with a deep sense of responsibility to immigrant and working families,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation. “New York’s voice in the world will be stronger because Ana María understands that our global leadership starts with standing firmly for justice and human dignity at home.”

About Ana María Archila

Ana María Archila has been a leader in New York and nationally in the fight for immigrant rights for over two decades. Born in Colombia, Ana María has spent her entire adult life in New York. She co-founded and led several grassroots progressive organizations, including Make the Road New York and the Center for Popular Democracy.

Throughout her career, Archila has led efforts for immigration reform, paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage and passing the New York Dream Act. She ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2022 and as a first-time candidate, won 213,210 votes. She most recently served as co-director of the NYWFP and played an integral role in the election of Mayor Mamdani.

Faiza Ali will lead the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Ali is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and brings years of experience in community organizing and city government. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) advises the Mayor to ensure New York City takes care of its immigrant neighbors.

“I am proud to appoint Faiza Ali as the next Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. As the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Faiza understands firsthand the promise and the precarity that define the immigrant experience in New York. She brings more than a decade of experience in community engagement and city government, and a proven record of leadership in advancing immigrant rights and services,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “At a time when immigrant New Yorkers face escalating attacks and uncertainty, this administration will not equivocate. We will defend our neighbors. We will expand access to services. And we will ensure that New York City remains a place where immigrants are not merely welcomed in words, but protected in policy, supported in practice, and able to live and work with the dignity they deserve.”

"I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents from Pakistan who came to New York City with courage, an unshakable belief in possibility, and the determination to build a future here. This city gave us opportunity, stability, and the chance to put down roots, just as it has for generations of immigrants before us. It is an honor to serve as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. New York City is not just home to immigrants, it is powered by them. Our neighborhoods, our economy, our culture, and our future are shaped by people who arrived here seeking safety and opportunity. As Commissioner, I am committed to building a city that ensures every New Yorker, regardless of when they arrived or where they were born, can live, work, and raise families with dignity,” said Faiza Ali.

“I’ve had the honor of working with Faiza in her council capacity for the past three years. She is intelligent, caring, and deeply passionate about this work. I am confident as Commissioner she will bring her experience, drive, and commitment to serve as a strong ally to us all. At a time when our work matters more than ever, I am sincerely optimistic about her ability to lead the team at MOIA,” said Council Member Elsie Encarnacion, Chair of Immigration Committee.

“Faiza N. Ali’s appointment as MOIA commissioner is a victory for immigrant New Yorkers,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition. “As a born and bred New Yorker, who grew up in an immigrant family and neighborhood in Brooklyn, she intimately understands the needs and experiences of our communities. Throughout her career, she has empowered hard-working New Yorkers of all faiths and cultures by connecting them to opportunities and services – while advancing policy changes that ensure every family the opportunity to thrive. We are heartened by Mayor Mamdani’s appointment of Ali and look forward to working with her to advance the health and well-being of all immigrant New Yorkers now and into the future.”

“We congratulate Commissioner Faiza Ali for her appointment to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Faiza brings extensive experience as a public servant to this critical role, and with that a unique understanding of NYC’s diverse communities and the complex challenges they face. We are confident that Faiza will be a strong advocate for all immigrant New Yorkers and will stand firm in protecting our communities against federal overreach,” said Natalia Aristizabal, incoming co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY.

“We are proud to welcome Faiza Ali as the next Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Faiza has been a steadfast ally to Staten Island’s immigrant community. We need leaders like her, smart, principled, and deeply rooted in organizing, who will stand up for immigrant families on Staten Island and beyond. We look forward to working alongside her and supporting her,” said Arlette Cepeda, Interim Executive Director, La Colmena.

“Faiza has been a part of AAANY’s community for many years. As the Director of our Advocacy & Civic Engagement program, she led campaigns—including immigration reform efforts—that helped thousands of immigrants across NYC,” said Marwa Janini, Executive Director, Arab American Association of New York. “Her experience and understanding of both policy and on-the-ground realities make her a perfect fit for this role. We at AAANY have every confidence that, as the Commissioner of MOIA, she will continue to be an advocate and a champion for New York City’s immigrant communities.”

“We are thrilled that Faiza Ali will be the new commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Faiza’s deep experience in government, outstanding dedication to serving immigrant communities, and commitment to fostering a city where immigrant small business owners can thrive make her an excellent fit for this role,” said Mohamed Attia, Managing Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center.

About Faiza Ali

Faiza Ali has spent more than a decade working in community engagement at the New York City Council. In 2014, she served as a Community Liaison before working her way to Director of the Community Engagement Division. Prior to joining the Council, Ali was the Advocacy & Civic Engagement Director for the Arab American Association of NY and co-founded the Muslim Democratic Club of New York. She also served as Director of Advocacy at the Arab American Association of New York, an organizer with Brooklyn Congregations United and Director of Community Affairs at CAIR-NY.

Ali helped lead efforts to include two Muslim holidays in the New York City public school system and has fought for immigration reform and language access. She most recently served as First Deputy Chief of Staff at the City Council. As commissioner, Ali will work to increase the accessibility of city programs and benefits to non-English speaking New Yorkers and work collaboratively with other agencies to protects immigrants throughout the five boroughs.

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