New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has appointed Ramzi Kassem as the city's top attorney, a decision that has sparked controversy. Kassem previously defended al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed al-Darbi and represented an anti-Israel activist labeled a national security threat. However, Kassem also served as a senior policy advisor for immigration under President Joe Biden and has defended students detained by ICE. Mamdani praised Kassem's experience and commitment to defending the abandoned, while Kassem expressed a desire to serve the city that became his home.