New York City taxpayers are apparently about to help provide security for a private family trip to two countries the federal government emphatically tells Americans to avoid.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, plans to visit Syria and Lebanon beginning Sept. 20, accompanied by officers from her taxpayer-funded NYPD security detail, according to a report Monday evening. City Hall has since confirmed both the trip and the police protection.
“Upon the strong recommendation of the NYPD, the First Lady’s security detail will be joining her when she travels to visit family in Syria and Lebanon,” mayoral spokeswoman Dora Pekec told the New York Post.
As of Tuesday morning, City Hall had not publicly disclosed how many officers would travel, how long the trip would last or what transportation, lodging and overtime could cost taxpayers.
A source familiar with the arrangements told the Post that the journey is “not official business” and “not doing anything for the city.”
Both destinations carry the State Department’s highest warning: Level 4 — “Do Not Travel.”
The department updated its Syria advisory on Aug. 7, warning of terrorism, kidnapping, hostage-taking, crime and armed conflict. It declares that “no part of Syria is safe from violence” and notes that the United States has had no functioning embassy there since 2012.
The government’s Lebanon advisory warns Americans about terrorism, kidnapping, landmines and armed conflict. It says drone and missile strikes can occur even in Beirut and that Americans “may be viewed as targets of opportunity.”
Former Democratic New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind argued that the officers could face greater danger than the person they are assigned to protect.
“We’re putting the police officers in danger,” Hikind said. “They will be viewed as the bad guys. These are war zones.”
Duwaji traveled abroad in July without NYPD protection, according to the Post. This time, she reportedly requested the detail, although City Hall maintains that sending it was the department’s strong recommendation.
The need for legitimate protection is not imaginary. Duwaji and Mamdani were targeted by an explosive device during a confrontation outside Gracie Mansion in March. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers “ran toward the danger,” while the mayor thanked them for acting “without hesitation.” ABC News reported on the incident and subsequent arrests.
But that history makes the unanswered questions more urgent, not less: How many New York police officers are being sent? What will the mission cost? Who coordinates their security inside Syria? And why should officers be placed in countries where Washington warns that even the U.S. government may be unable to rescue its own citizens?
Here is socialism’s newest travel package: The trip is private, the danger is public and the bill belongs to you.
No reasonable person begrudges the mayor’s wife protection from credible threats. But flying New York cops into two Level 4 countries for a personal visit is not a routine ride across town. If City Hall wants taxpayers to finance this expedition, it owes them more than “the NYPD recommended it.”
New Yorkers deserve the itinerary’s public-interest portion—particularly the page showing what this costs and why officers should assume risks the State Department is practically announcing with flashing red lights.
DBS WIRE SOURCES
- New York Post — NYC first lady Rama Duwaji traveling to Syria, Lebanon with taxpayer-funded NYPD security detail
- U.S. State Department — Syria travel advisory
- U.S. State Department — Lebanon travel advisory
- Jerusalem Post — Mamdani’s wife to travel to Syria and Lebanon with taxpayer-funded detail
- ABC News — Improvised explosive device thrown during protests outside mayor’s home
