Former Afghan General And First Deputy House Speaker Extradited To U.S. To Face Charges Of Conspiring To Traffic Hundreds Of Kilograms Of Heroin And Methamphetamine And Provide Arsenal Of Military-Grade Weaponry

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging ABDUL ZAHIR QADEER, a/k/a “Haji Abdul Zahir,” a former general in Afghanistan’s Border Force and First Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan’s National Assembly’s House of the People, with conspiring to import heroin and methamphetamine and related firearms offenses.  QADEER was presented earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo and ordered detained pending trial, following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 15, 2025 and extradition to the United States on July 10, 2026. 

“Abdul Zahir Qadeer, a former high-ranking Afghan government official, allegedly also held a dual role as a large-scale international narcotics and military-grade weapons trafficker,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “In an attempt to traffic massive amounts of poison and weaponry—including heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers—Qadeer allegedly sold a two-kilogram test shipment to a buyer, which was delivered in South Africa.  Unbeknownst to Qadeer, that buyer was working with the DEA.  The scale of potential devastation Qadeer was attempting to bring to the U.S. is terrifying.  This brazen effort underscores the need for the commitment and expertise of our career prosecutors and DEA partners.”

“While purporting to be a political leader of Afghanistan, Abdul Zahir Qadeer was allegedly leading a criminal enterprise dealing in dangerous and addictive narcotics and heavy weapons,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.  “The Drug Enforcement Administration led an investigation that ended Qadeer’s audacious criminal activity, and now he will face justice in the United States.”

“The world is safer now that Abdul Zahir Qadeer is facing justice in the United States,” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole.  “As a former General for Afghanistan’s Border Force, Qadeer was entrusted to protect his country's borders—instead, he exploited his position to facilitate drug and weapons trafficking that fueled violence and instability.  Make no mistake; we will use the full weight of the United States government to bring such individuals to justice.  No matter where you are, no matter how powerful you think you are—you are not out of our reach.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and other public filings:(1)

QADEER is a former member of Afghanistan’s National Assembly, which functioned as the legislature of Afghanistan until the Taliban regained control of the country in or about August 2021, and he was elected First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly’s House of the People in or about 2012.  QADEER previously served as a general in Afghanistan’s Border Force, a paramilitary police organization responsible for securing Afghanistan’s border, commanding its Eighth Border Battalion in Takhar Province, Afghanistan.  QADEER is pictured below, dressed in blue, toward the left of the image: 

QADEER was also, until his arrest, a large-scale international narcotics and weapons trafficker.  As alleged in the Complaint, QADEER engaged in extensive negotiations with an individual who purported to be a member of an international drug trafficking organization (the “DTO”) but, unbeknownst to QADEER, was in fact a confidential source (“CS-1”) working at the direction of the DEA. 

In or about November 2024, CS-1 began communicating with QADEER about their potential partnership in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine for importation into and sale in the United States for the purported DTO.  As an early step in their partnership, on or about December 10, 2024, QADEER sold a two-kilogram test shipment of methamphetamine delivered to CS-1’s associate in Johannesburg, South Africa, in exchange for approximately $14,000.  Thereafter, QADEER continued to negotiate with CS-1 regarding the sale to the DTO of hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine, along with hundreds of heavy machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, pistols, and grenades, which CS-1 represented would be used by the DTO to protect its drug trafficking activities from interdiction by the United States government.  Pictured below is a purported weapons order from CS-1 that QADEER agreed to fulfill: 

Upon receiving the weapons order, QADEER provided CS-1 with quotes of how much he would charge to source each weapon, including, for example, $11,579 for one sniper rifle, $9,670 for one type of machine gun, and $1,770 for 10 grenades in one box.

In or about April 2025, QADEER attended a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, with several individuals who he believed to be members of the DTO he would supply with narcotics and weapons.  In reality, it was a meeting between QADEER and multiple DEA confidential sources. Kenyan law enforcement officers arrested QADEER immediately following the meeting.

ABDUL ZAHIR QADEER, 52, of Afghanistan, has been charged with narcotics importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; using and carrying machine guns and destructive devices during, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the narcotics-importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices during, and possess machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the narcotics-importation conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

The statutory maximum and mandatory minimum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Tactical Aviation Unit, which assisted with QADEER’s extradition to the United States from Kenya; the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; and Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigations for their assistance.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Bodansky and Chelsea L. Scism are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

1.  As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

DEPORTED: DHS Removes Convicted Child Rapist Pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement confirming that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested and deported an illegal alien from Laos who had been pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his fellow sanctuary politicians despite a prior conviction for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

Tou Lue Vang, an illegal alien from Laos, had been convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal sexual conduct after he repeatedly assaulted a girl between 2002 and 2004, starting when she was just 10 years old. He once offered his victim $10 to keep quiet about the sexual assaults. When interviewed by police, he tried to justify his actions as “a cultural thing,” and even said that his victim was just as guilty as him and should also be arrested.

Following his conviction, a Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge issued Vang a final order of removal on October 31, 2006.

Tou Lue Vang being deported

ICE first arrested and detained Vang on December 10, 2025. On February 19, 2026, a judge in the District of Minnesota ordered his release from ICE custody. On June 10, 2026, the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission voted to grant a pardon to Vang.

The letter from the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission announcing Vang’s pardon.

“ICE deported Tou Vang, an illegal alien convicted child rapist. This monster repeatedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Tim Walz pardoned this sex criminal in an attempt to allow him to remain in our country. These are the criminal illegal aliens he and sanctuary politicians are protecting. We will always put the safety of the American people first.”

Vang entered the United States in California in 1994 and was granted legal status by the Clinton Administration. That status was revoked upon his conviction and final order of removal in 2006.

HSTF Shuts Down Mexican Cocaine Smuggling Operation Leading to 15 Prison Sentences

 

The last of 15 defendants was sentenced to prison after a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation dismantled a Kansas City metro-based drug trafficking ring linked to Mexico.  

In December 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched an investigation into a drug trafficking ring headed by Santiago Gamboa-Saenz. Gamboa-Saenz, 39, is an illegal alien from Chihuahua, Mexico. His network of traffickers smuggled cocaine from Mexico into the United States, which was then transported and distributed in Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri, Saint Louis, Chicago, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and Indiana. 

Through investigation, agents tied the criminal network to houses on West 98th Street in Overland Park and South Montebello in Olathe. They also determined a mechanic shop on Kaw Drive in Kansas City, Kansas, was being used to outfit vehicles with hidden compartments to transport drugs and drug money.

Search warrants executed at these locations and others resulted in the seizure of over $733,000 and over 18.0 net kilograms of cocaine. Vehicle stops led to the discovery of hidden compartments with $533,780 in cash, more than 12.0 net kilograms of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and many drug ledgers. The drug ledgers alone document drug proceeds from cocaine sales in the amount of $48,783,269. The drug trafficking organization sold cocaine to its customers for $29,000 to $36,000 per kilogram. 

“This operation demonstrates to Americans the vast reach of drug trafficking organizations within the Midwest, but more importantly, puts on display the impressive capabilities of combined law enforcement efforts,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer said. “Cartel members and affiliates are not welcome here. The DEA and our many partners will not slow down or be deterred as we work toward dismantling the drug trafficking organizations terrorizing our communities.”

“What may look like legitimate businesses from the outside can sometimes be criminal operations. These smugglers used a mechanic shop as a front in attempt to fly under the radar of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “They used the space to custom outfit vehicles with hidden compartments allowing them to move large amounts of illegal narcotics and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at a time.”

Santiago Gamboa-Saenz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 276 months imprisonment.

Other defendants received the following prison sentences: 

• Frank Gallo De La Cruz, 41, an illegal alien from Mexico, 108 months
• Dimas Simoes Calixto-Filho, 46, an illegal alien from Brazil, 108 months 
• Efrain Garcia-Perez, 42, an illegal alien from Mexico, 104 months
• Juan Alvarez-Perez, 40, an illegal alien from Mexico, 96 months 
• Bryan Eduardo Dominguez-Green, 24, an illegal alien from Mexico, 71 months
• Miguel Angel Vasquez-Rodriguez, 37, an illegal alien from Mexico, 64 months 
• Maria Ileana Cota, 37, of Henderson, Colorado, 48 months
• Eduardo Ramirez-Ochoa, 36, a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico residing in Cotton Falls, Kansas, 46 months 
• Jaime De Jesus Ocampo, 62, of Kansas City, Kansas, 24 months
• Irlanda Areyim Grajeda, 37, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 22 months
• Jesus Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 41, an illegal alien from Mexico, 21 months 
• Homero Baca-Marquez, 28, an illegal alien from Mexico, 21 months 
• Jose Cera-Acosta, 40, of Kansas City, Kansas, 17 months 
• Vladimir Blanco-Garciga, 54, a Cuban national residing in Riverside, Missouri, 4 months

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Zabel and Taylor Hines prosecuted the case.

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from FBI; HSI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.

Former Deputy U.S. Marshal Sentenced for Assault on Prisoner in Louisiana Courthouse

A former Deputy U.S. Marshal was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for assaulting a federal inmate and writing a false report about the incident.

In April 2026, after a three-day trial, a federal jury in the Western District of Louisiana convicted Joshua Firmin, 49, of one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and one count of Falsification of Records.

“The great majority of law enforcement officers do essential work honorably and lawfully under difficult and high-risk conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “But Joshua Firmin knowingly overstepped his authority when he assaulted a shackled prisoner and failed to uphold the trust placed in him when he lied about it in official documents. Today’s sentence represents appropriate accountability, and we are grateful to the law enforcement personnel who reported the misconduct and cooperated with the investigation.”

“The civil rights protections afforded to all U.S. citizens are a fundamental part of the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The unlawful civil rights violation committed by Mr. Firmin against a shackled inmate, not only tarnishes the reputation, it also engenders public distrust of the innumerable law enforcement officers who so honorably protect and serve all of us. Today’s sentencing ensures that Mr. Firmin is being held accountable for his actions.”

“Firmin violated his oath as a law enforcement officer by abusing his authority,” said Special Agent in Charge Cloey Pierce of the  Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) South Central Region Houston Office. “The DOJ OIG will continue working with its law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone participating in this type of behavior will be brought to justice.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on February 29, 2024, Firmin, who was then assigned to operations duties at the federal courthouse in Lafayette, Louisiana, learned that a prisoner awaiting a court appearance in the courthouse cell block had made insulting remarks about Firmin to another courthouse employee. Shortly thereafter, Firmin entered the courthouse cellblock and unlocked the cell where the prisoner was being held, yanked the prisoner, who was restrained in handcuffs, waist shackles, and leg irons, out of the cell by his hair and slammed his head into the cellblock wall. As a result of the assault, the prisoner suffered a laceration to his scalp that required staples to close. Following the assault, Firmin wrote an official use of force report in which he falsely stated that the prisoner had attempted to spit on him and then inadvertently struck his head on a door while resisting efforts to escort him to another cell. However, another Deputy U.S. Marshal, who had witnessed the assault, promptly reported the misconduct to his chain of command, leading to an investigation by the DOJ OIG.

The case was investigated by the DOJ OIG South Central Region Houston Office. 

Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration for Trying to Slash Youth Mental Health Funding Again

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 14 other attorneys general in suing the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon for again attempting to unlawfully cut federal funding for school-based mental health services. The lawsuit challenges the administration’s latest effort to terminate grant programs that help schools hire mental health professionals, which were created by a bipartisan majority in Congress in response to the worsening youth mental health crisis and a series of tragic school shootings, including in Parkland, Florida and Uvalde, Texas. In December 2025, Attorney General James and the coalition secured a permanent injunction blocking the administration’s attempt to unlawfully end these grants. Now, the Education Department is attempting to evade that court order by implementing the very same policy to eliminate these grants using a different method. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to preliminarily and permanently stop the administration from cutting off this critical funding and protect the youth mental health infrastructure schools have built under these programs.

“The first time this administration tried to take mental health services away from children, we beat them in court,” said Attorney General James. “Now they are trying to carry out the same illegal scheme and abandon students who need support. We already stopped them once, and we are prepared to do it again. My office will keep fighting to protect our children’s mental health and ensure schools have the resources to hire counselors, social workers, and psychologists in communities that need them most.”

In 2018, following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Congress established and funded the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP) to address a shortage of mental health professionals in high-need public schools. Two years later, Congress expanded these efforts with the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SBMH), which provided funding to help schools hire, train, and retain school-based mental health staff. In the wake of the devastating 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Congress dramatically increased funding for both programs, appropriating more than $100 million annually to each program through 2026. Each program was designed as a five-year initiative, with the goal of placing 14,000 new mental health professionals in schools, particularly those in low-income and rural areas, where students often face greater barriers to accessing mental health care.

These programs have already demonstrated measurable success. In the first year alone, nearly 775,000 students received mental or behavioral health services, more than 1,200 school-based mental health professionals were hired, and 95 percent were retained. Student wait times for care dropped by 80 percent. Grantees also reported a 50 percent reduction in suicide risk at high-need schools, lower absenteeism and behavioral incidents, and stronger student-staff relationships.

Despite these successes, the Education Department abruptly moved in 2025 to discontinue more than $1 billion in funding for these programs, claiming that certain grants conflicted with the administration’s priorities because they supported diversity, equity, and inclusion. Attorney General James and a coalition sued, and in December 2025, won summary judgment, with a court order declaring the Education Department’s actions unlawful and permanently blocking the administration from using its new, unpublished priorities to “discontinue” the grants.

Following its loss in court, the Education Department provided approximately six months of funding to schools and other grantees. However, the administration has now reversed course and announced that it plans to “terminate” some or all of the same protected grants as soon as July 31, 2026. The administration claims it can do so because the coalition’s injunction blocked “discontinuities,” and they now plan to “terminate” the grants at issue. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the Education Department cannot get around the court’s order by changing the word “discontinue” to “terminate.” In their lawsuit, the attorneys general write, “though the precise mechanism by which the Department plans to end the protected grants may have changed, its illegality has not.”

New York stands to lose at least $19 million in previously approved funding if the cuts are allowed to proceed. That includes more than $7.6 million for the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Without this funding, SUNY Binghamton could be forced to pull mental health professionals from schools serving more than 9,000 rural students, laying off 10 full-time staff, several part-time employees, and graduate assistants. SUNY Buffalo could be forced to end a fellowship program training school social workers to serve students in Western New York, jeopardizing care for an estimated 3,000 students. Several New York school districts and private institutions could also lose funding, threatening mental health services for students in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes, the Mohawk Valley, Central New York, and other communities throughout the state.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the Education Department cannot use new, unpublished priorities to terminate grants that were already awarded, and cannot punish grantees for including equity statements that Congress itself required as part of the grant application process. They contend this latest attempt to terminate these grants violates the Administrative Procedure Act, federal grant regulations, and Congress’ authority. The attorneys general are asking the court to to grant a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from slashing the protected grants and prevent the department from imposing similar unlawful conditions moving forward.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

PHILADELPHIA MAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING GAS STATION ATTENDANT

Defendant Critically Wounded Victim in Apparent Random Attack

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Philadelphia, PA man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for shooting a man in the head while he was working at an Allerton gas station, leaving him with life-altering injuries. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant opened the door of the victim’s office and shot him in the head. Although the victim miraculously survived the attack, he still faces challenges a decade later. The defendant now has been held accountable for this brutal, senseless crime.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Termaine Saulsbury, 42, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced on June 30, 2026, to 17 years in prison and five years post release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Samuel David. The defendant pleaded guilty on April 24, 2026, to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree.  

According to the investigation, on November 22, 2022, at approximately 7:00 p.m., inside a gas station at 2290 Boston Road, the defendant went to the station’s office, opened the door, and immediately shot a 59-year-old man who was working there in the head one time, piercing his skull. The defendant fled to Pennsylvania the following day, where he shot a Philadelphia Parking Authority Officer and was held there until being extradited to New York in January of 2026.

The victim underwent multiple surgeries and was put on ventilator and feeding tube for several months. He still suffers effects from the shooting.

The defendant pleaded guilty to attempted murder and firearms possession charges in Pennsylvania and was sentenced to 17 ½-35 years incarceration. The New York sentence will run concurrently.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Lieutenant Christopher Crain, retired NYPD Detective Eric Reynolds and NYPD Officer Benjamin Bayan of the 49 Precinct for their work on the investigation.

Governor Hochul Announces the Opening of TheZone, a State-of-the-art Indoor Play Space in Jamestown Connecting Sports With Steam

Unique Play Haven Supports Governor’s Unplug and Play Initiative with Interactive Technology and Non-Structured Leisure Activities that Get Kids Moving and Thinking

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the grand opening of TheZone, a new 6,200-square-foot indoor play space located inside Jamestown's Northwest Arena. Designed for toddlers through pre-teens, the state-of-the-art facility directly connects sports with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) concepts. The innovative venue supports the Governor's "Unplug and Play" initiative by blending non-structured physical activity with interactive technology.

“It’s great to see a new attraction for families in Jamestown that is encouraging kids of all ages to Unplug and Play,” Governor Hochul said. “The National Comedy Center is located across the street, making Jamestown an ideal destination for visitors looking to laugh, learn and get active in a whole new way. By creating spaces that inspire curiosity, teamwork and healthy activity, we are investing in the next generation of New Yorkers and strengthening communities across the state.”

The facility is fully ADA-compliant and structured to remain financially accessible. Low-cost opportunities will be available through scholarships and school-coordinated field trips. Situated near downtown assets like the National Comedy Center and the Jamestown Riverwalk, TheZone is projected to attract 45,000 new visitors annually to the Northwest Arena.

Designed by Jack Rouse Associates and Cortina Productions, the vibrant play pavilion includes:

• Tunnel Experience: An electric, professional-style pre-game sports tunnel that announces children's names as they enter
• Free Play Zone: An open athletic space equipped with hoops, balls, nets, and a massive Jumbotron capturing instant replays
• Toddler Bullpen: A dedicated, safe enclosure featuring soft-play equipment for children ages 2 to 5 to build basic motor skills
• Primetime Climb: An ADA-accessible, two-tiered climbing framework with obstacles, lookouts, and slides integrated with a digital scavenger hunt
• Locker Room: An interactive space where kids can learn about nutrition and physics, design custom sports jerseys, and control room lighting

Mayor Mamdani Announces Landmark “Click-To-Cancel" Consumer Protection Rules to Ban Subscription Traps and Junk Fees

First-in-the-nation municipal “Click-To-Cancel” rule expected to save New Yorkers hundreds of millions per year  

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine announced sweeping new consumer protections that will crack down on junk fees and subscription traps, making it easier for New Yorkers to know the real price of what they are buying and to stop paying for the services they no longer want.

Following Mayor Mamdani’s Executive Orders 9 and 10, the City announced a proposed rule requiring transparent, all-in pricing that bans hidden junk fees, alongside a final “Click to Cancel” rule that guarantees consumers can cancel subscriptions as easily as they sign up for them.

 

Together, these rules represent one of the strongest municipal consumer protection efforts in the country and build upon Mayor Mamdani’s affordability agenda, including the City’s rule banning hidden hotel fees. The Click-to-Cancel Rule alone is estimated to save New Yorkers up to $162.5 million per year. 

 

“For years, companies have built their business model around making it harder for working people to hold onto their money,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Whether it’s hidden fees that suddenly appear at checkout or subscriptions that take one click to sign up for and a dozen steps to cancel, the result is the same: working people pay more while corporations profit. That ends now. If you can sign up with one click, you can cancel with one click.” 

 

“Every dollar a family loses to a hidden fee or a subscription they couldn’t cancel is a dollar stolen from them, a dollar that could have gone toward rent, groceries, childcare, or anything else. And just as important, the hours spent trying to cancel a subscription or membership you no longer want is stolen time,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “That’s what affordability means in practice—closing the small holes that drain people’s paychecks and their time month after month. These rules put New Yorkers back in control.” 

 

“The Mamdani Administration is shutting the door on the era of fleecing New Yorkers with junk fees and subscription traps,” said Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. “These two rules will ensure that the price you see is the price you pay—no hidden charges, no endless subscription services and no advantages for businesses that cheat. Requiring companies to compete on price will lower costs for all New Yorkers and level the playing field for honest businesses.”

 

“Nobody should be trapped in subscriptions they can’t escape or stuck paying junk fees they can’t avoid,” said Lina Khan, former FTC Chair. “These predatory tactics cheat people out of billions of dollars each year. With today’s rules, Commissioner Levine and DCWP are cracking down on corporate ripoffs, protecting families and honest businesses alike. The Mamdani administration’s work to tackle the affordability crisis and promote economic fairness continues to set a new standard nationwide, modeling effective governance and a relentless focus on using all of the city’s levers to improve life for New Yorkers.” 

Proposed “Junk Fees” Rule 

 

The proposed rule requires businesses to advertise the full price of goods and services upfront, including all mandatory charges and fees. This is the first step toward implementing Mayor Mamdani’s Executive Order 9, directing DCWP to crack down on junk fees citywide.

 

Businesses would be prohibited from misrepresenting the purpose, amount or refundability of any fees. Companies that charge “service charges,” “processing fees” or similar mandatory charges would be required to include those fees in the advertised price and document what those fees actually cover. Businesses that violate the rule would face restitution to harmed consumers and civil penalties beginning at $525 per violation. To help consumers and businesses understand the proposed rule, DCWP has also released an explainer video outlining what the rule would do and how all-in pricing would work.

 

The proposed rule was published July 8th and will be followed by a public comment period and public hearing on August 7th.

 

“Junk fees” are hidden mandatory charges that appear late in the purchasing process, often at checkout, after consumers have already committed to a purchase. The practice has become widespread across industries including third-party delivery apps, hotels and ticketing platforms. According to Consumer Reports, hidden fees cost the average family of four an estimated $3,200 each year. 

 

“Click-To-Cancel” Rule 

 

This final Click-to-Cancel rule takes effect on October 1, 2026, making New York City the first municipality in the nation to require businesses to provide simple, straightforward subscription cancellation.

 

The rule applies to automatic renewal and continuous service subscriptions and requires businesses to clearly disclose subscription terms and provide an easy cancellation process. New Yorkers can learn more at https://nyc.gov/click-to-cancelnyc.gov/click-to-cancel. 

 

The rule implements Executive Order 10 and is projected to save New Yorkers between $21.5 million to $162.5 million annually, according to the Roosevelt Institute. 

 

Too often, consumers are forced through confusing and time-consuming cancellation processes, from “free trials” that quietly become recurring charges to endless online hurdles designed to discourage cancellation. The rule prohibits those practices and requires straightforward, transparent cancellation mechanisms.

 

Businesses that violate the rule will be subject to restitution for consumers and civil penalties beginning at $525 per violation.