New York City Council data analyst, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez – an immigrant from Venezuela, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 12, 2026, during a routine immigration appointment on Long Island, despite having work authorization until October 2026, sparking outrage from city officials who called it government overreach and demanded his immediate release.
Key Details:
- Who: An unnamed data analyst on the City Council’s central staff, who is from Venezuela.
- When: Monday, January 12, 2026, during a routine appointment.
- Where: Bethpage, Long Island, before being taken to a federal facility in Manhattan.
- Why (officials’ view): City Council Speaker Julie Menin and others denounced the detention as an “egregious” action, stating the employee was following all rules and had legal status.
- Status: The employee was granted one phone call, which he used to contact the Council’s HR department, who then learned of the situation.
- Response: City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Speaker Menin, are demanding his immediate release and protesting the federal government’s actions, linking it to broader immigration crackdowns.
Sources: Midtown Tribune news
