Kaz Daughtry, who was top deputy to ex-NYC Mayor Eric Adams, to join ICE

Rocco Parascandola and Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News on Jan 23, 2026

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NEW YORK — Kaz Daughtry, a top official in ex-Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, is slated to join the Department Homeland Security as a law enforcement liaison, the Department of Homeland Security told The New York Daily News.

Daughtry, who served as Adams’ deputy mayor for public safety and was one of Adams’ closest allies in the administration at the end of his term, formally retired from the Police Department earlier this month.

He will join the agency as a non-law enforcement liaison, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Friday evening.

Daughtry has ties to the Trump White House and served as City Hall’s main liaison with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Adams. He reportedly helped Trump border czar Tom Homan plan raids targeting immigrants residing in city-funded hotels — efforts that were blocked by New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Last summer, Daughtry posted photos of himself and John Chell, another former top NYPD official, playing golf with President Donald Trump in New Jersey.

Daughtry declined to comment.

Spokespeople for Adams or Mayor Zohran Mamdani did not respond to requests for comment. Mamdani has not hired anyone to fill Daughtry’s former administration role.

Adams fostered a friendly relationship with the Trump administration, which attracted intense scrutiny after the president’s Department of Justice worked to dismiss the then-mayor’s federal corruption indictment.

Daughtry was one of the stars of the planned “Behind the Badge” TV series, which was made with Dr. Phil’s son, Jordan McGraw. Mayor Mamdani’s Law Department is now suing the son and his production company, accusing them of trying to air “extremely problematic” episodes against the wishes of the city that include footage of crime victims, witnesses and undercover officers.