New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed that he was "outraged" after a New York City Council employee was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a Nassau County court appearance on Long Island on Monday, according to reports.
First announced by City Council Speaker Julie Menin during a press conference held Monday evening, the employee in question - Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, originally from Venezuela - was taken by ICE agents and whisked away to a detainment center while he was at a routine immigration court appearance in Bethpage. Bohorquez was allowed one phone call once in custody, which he used to alert the City Council to his predicament.
During the press conference, Menin said that the shocking detention was "overreach" on ICE's part and claimed that Bohorquez is legally authorized to live and work in the United States until late 2026.
“This afternoon, a City Council employee was detained by federal immigration officials at a routine immigration appointment," she said. "He had legal authorization to remain in the country until October of this year. We are doing everything we can to secure his immediate release, and we demand swift and transparent action by the federal government on this apparent overreach. Across the nation, we have seen aggressive escalations by ICE that raise serious concerns on the use of excessive force and a lack of accountability. As New Yorkers, we will stand up for the rights and dignity of every neighbor.”
NYC Mayor Mamdani issued a statement via X - formerly known as Twitter - saying that he was "outraged" by Bohorquez's detention by ICE.
"I am outraged to hear a New York City Council employee was detained in Nassau County by federal immigration officials at a routine immigration appointment," he said. "This is an assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values. I am calling for his immediate release and will continue to monitor the situation."
When reached for comment on the situation, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security refuted Menin's assertion that Bohorquez was in the country legally - claiming that his work authorization actually ended on October 22, 2017 - and alleged that he is actually a "criminal illegal alien" who had been previously arrested for assault.