From Fox News: An immigration judge has ordered the deportation of a former New York City Council employee federal officials said in January was an undocumented immigrant with a prior assault arrest.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced the deportation ruling on Wednesday, condemning it as a “miscarriage of justice and wholly deplorable” and pledging to fight back by filing an appeal.
Two months ago, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, 53, was detained during an immigration appointment and was identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Venezuelan “criminal illegal alien” who overstayed his visa.
Federal officials said despite having no work authorization, Rubio Bohorquez was employed by the New York City council as a data analyst for roughly one year.
In a press release on January 13, DHS had announced: “Rubio entered the United States on a B2 tourist visa in 2017 that required him to depart the U.S by October 22, 2017. He had no legal right to be in the United States.”
Mamdani had thrown a fit at the time, writing on X, “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
Now the mayor is erupting in another fit of rage since a judge has ordered Rubio Bohorquez to be deported.
He complained in a post on X Wednesday afternoon, “Today, an administrative immigration judge ordered the deportation of Rafael Rubio, a City Council employee. This is an affront to justice.”
“A dedicated public servant with legal authorization to remain in the country, Rafael showed up for a routine immigration appointment and, despite following the rules, he was detained and has now been held for months. He should be immediately released,” the Democrat Socialist muslim mayor demanded.
Today, an administrative immigration judge ordered the deportation of Rafael Rubio, a City Council employee.
This is an affront to justice. A dedicated public servant with legal authorization to remain in the country, Rafael showed up for a routine immigration appointment and,…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 18, 2026
Despite Mamdani claiming the illegal alien had “legal authorization to remain in the country,” the government says he did NOT. However, PIX11 News claimed:
Bohorquez is from Venezuela. He entered the United States in 2017 on a tourist visa and later received Temporary Protected Status, known as TPS, allows recipients to legally live and work in the United States.
Last year, the Trump administration ended TPS protections for Venezuelans. However, many TPS holders, including Bohorquez, continued to hold valid work permits that remain active through October 2026.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who has repeatedly parroted the phrase “No one is above the law” when referring to President Donald Trump, also flew into a tirade over the illegal alien’s arrest in January.
“The @NYCCouncil staffer being detained by ICE must be released immediately. I just spoke with @SpeakerMenin to express my support for her staff. We will not stand for attacks on our city, its public servants, and its residents,” James fumed.
The @NYCCouncil staffer being detained by ICE must be released immediately. I just spoke with @SpeakerMenin to express my support for her staff.
We will not stand for attacks on our city, its public servants, and its residents.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) January 13, 2026
On Wednesday James jumped on the case again. She wrote: “This deportation order is outrageous. Rafael Rubio is a @NYCCouncil employee. He is legally permitted to be in the country, but was still met with this unjust detainment at a routine check-in. He followed the law. He should be released.”
This deportation order is outrageous.
Rafael Rubio is a @NYCCouncil employee. He is legally permitted to be in the country, but was still met with this unjust detainment at a routine check-in.
He followed the law. He should be released.https://t.co/gB7C3rbfbc
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) March 18, 2026
ILLEGAL ALIEN EMPLOYED BY NYC COUNCIL
Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, an illegal alien from Venezuela with a criminal history, was being illegally employed by the New York City Council.
New York not only harbors criminals, they also HIRE them with our tax dollars.
Unreal pic.twitter.com/ZV1bXRHsc1
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 16, 2026
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