From Fox News: The Department of Homeland Security detained a New York City Council employee during an immigration appointment on Monday, leading to outrage from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
DHS says the migrant, 53-year-old Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, overstayed on a 2017 tourist visa. They also say he was arrested in an assault case. Mamdani and other city leaders demanded the man’s release on Monday.
Bohorquez is from Venezuela, according to DHS records.
In a post on X Monday evening, the Democrat Socialist mayor fumed, “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. 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.”
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. This is an assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values. I am calling for his immediate release and will continue…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 12, 2026
New York City officials are slamming the arrest of Bohorquez, and claim he has no criminal record.
A New York City Council employee was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Jan. 12 as he attended a routine immigration appointment at a court on Long Island, federal and local officials said.
He works as a data analyst for the council, New York City… pic.twitter.com/GngKFwjOVM
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 13, 2026
Mamdani, a Muslim who was born in Uganda, has only been a U.S. citizen himself since 2018. His post has already generated over 2.2 million views, and the comments are pouring in. His comment is not receiving much love.
Below are just some of the responses:
Round them all up, send them all back.
— Dennis Michael Lynch (@TrustDML) January 13, 2026
Is he a citizen
— Billy Gribbin (@BillyGribbin) January 13, 2026
Democracy and values should never come out of your mouth.
— The Disrespected Trucker (@DisrespectedThe) January 13, 2026
Why are there illegals working for the city? Clean house
— Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (@PalominoOMG) January 13, 2026
Cry to Mohammad. We enforce laws
— Cash Loren (@Cashloren) January 13, 2026
Calling on his immediate release? Who are you? @ICEgov doesn’t give a crap about your calling, and there’s nothing you can do about it. 😂
— Joel Fischer 🇺🇸 (@realJoelFischer) January 13, 2026
READ MORE from Fox News.
NYC OUTRAGE: Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls ICE’s detention of City Council employee Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez an ‘assault on our democracy’ after DHS took him into custody during a routine immigration appointment Monday. DHS says he overstayed a 2017 tourist visa.…
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) January 13, 2026
His name is Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez overstayed his 2017 tourist visa, has prior arrest
If you love illegal migrants, you can let PAID protesters carpool with you to the Orange County jail (~ 65 miles from NYC) where he’s currently detained. Or bike 7 hours 1-way trip pic.twitter.com/LwTZWQnl9w
— Good Karma (@BuenoVibe) January 13, 2026
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