A nonprofit organization in New York City has been caught on camera advising a supposed noncitizen to illegally vote in November’s mayoral election for Zohran Mamdani.
According to footage released by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), an undercover journalist posing as an unregistered immigrant approached the nonprofit’s director, asking how to cast a ballot—and who to vote for.
The director allegedly explained how the journalist could navigate the system to vote despite not being a citizen and hinted at which candidate to choose, saying he should vote for the one whose name starts with “M.”
James O’Keefe, founder of the undercover investigative journalism organization, posted the video to X, with the caption: “La Jornada Executive Director Pedro Rodriguez Tells Undercover OMG Journalist Posing as an Unregistered Migrant to ‘Vote for the Guy That Starts with ‘M’ – Despite 501(c)(3) Regulation Prohibiting Political Activity by Tax-Exempt Organizations. Rodriguez Acknowledges Knowing the Individual Is ‘Not Registered’ Before Advising him How to Vote – a Potential Violation of Federal & State Election Laws.”
It’s illegal to vote in New York City elections as a non-citizen, but the voter ID mechanisms are not particularly strong, either.
The video shows the director of the nonprofit “La Jornada” – which boasts a focus on “assisting migrants with their paperwork and legal needs” – talking to the journalist posing as the immigrant.
Mike Casey, the correspondent, told Rodriguez, “Yes, I’m an immigrant. They sent me here to vote. I was recommended to come here to find information to vote. I was given two, dos locations. Forgive me, I am, no Espanol.”
Rodriguez responded, “No, this is perfect for me,” before asking the undercover journalist when he registered to vote.
“I did not, I didn’t sign anything. They just told me to come here to vote,” Casey said.
“You’re not registered? Okay,” the director says. OMG reported that even though the journalist posing as the unregistered immigrant was not in a legal voting status, he was nonetheless instructed to go vote at a local community college.
When O’Keefe and his team later confronted Rodriguez, the nonprofit’s director, he denied ever instructing the undercover journalist to vote for Mamdani — even though the reporter had clearly posed as an illegal immigrant in the recorded exchange.
Mamdani, a self-described “democratic socialist,” is already under fire after fares for city buses increased this week, though he promised free buses for all residents during his campaign.
New York City transit riders began paying higher fares this week after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority implemented a long-planned increase, raising the base fare for buses and subways from $2.90 to $3.
Reduced fares rose to $1.50, while express bus fares increased to $7.25, Newsweek reported.
The fare hike took effect shortly after Zohran Mamdani assumed office as mayor, drawing criticism online from residents who pointed to his campaign pledge to make city buses free.
Critics argued the increase highlights a gap between campaign rhetoric and the financial realities of governing the nation’s largest city, the report said.
While the mayor does not directly control MTA fare decisions, the timing of the increase has renewed debate over whether progressive transit promises are achievable without new taxes or additional public subsidies. The MTA board approved the fare hike last year as part of its regular budget cycle, citing rising operating costs and inflation.
After Mamdani took office, he said: “Getting on a bus without worrying about a fare hike or whether you’ll be late to your destination will no longer be deemed a small miracle—because we will make buses fast and free.”
Although the fare increase was approved before Mamdani took office and rate increases are determined by the MTA Board, social media users still criticized the rise in costs and highlighted Mamdani’s campaign promise, Newsweek pointed out.
“Mamdani promised us a free ride, but all we got is a higher fare,” one X user wrote, per the outlet.
“Bus and Subway fares in NYC are jumping to $3 as of today. The good mayor promised free. Hoodwinked!” said another.
Another X user wrote that Mamdani “has been in office for just weeks” and “the fare increase was set in September.”
