NYC Council employee detained by ICE during routine immigration appointment
Jan 13, 2026·Location: Bethpage, NY
Country of origin: Venezuela

A New York City Council employee was detained by ICE during a routine immigration court appointment in Bethpage, Long Island on Monday. DHS identified the employee as Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez from Venezuela, alleging he entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2017 that expired and has a criminal history. City officials and Democratic leaders called the detention egregious government overreach, noting the employee had work authorization and passed background checks for his position as a data analyst.
Sources
- Mamdani 'outraged' after New York City Council employee detained by ICE
- Washington Post
- New York City Council employee detained by ICE must be deported, federal judge rules
- NYC Council staffer detained by ICE
- City Council worker detained by ICE appears before immigration judge
pix11.com·Jan 21, 2026·archived copy
- City Council Staffer Will Remain In ICE Custody, Judge Rules
patch.com·Feb 2, 2026·archived copy
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