Mamdani Furious After Staffer Detained by ICE
A New York City council staffer was detained by federal immigration agents after authorities say he overstayed a 2017 tourist visa and was tied to an assault case. The arrest happened during a routine immigration appointment in Nassau County.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded fast. He called the detention an attack on the city and its values. He demanded the staffer’s release and promised to keep watching the case closely.
He wrote: “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
Federal officials, though, say the man overstayed a 2017 tourist visa and was arrested in connection with an assault. The Department of Homeland Security named him as 53-year-old Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez.
Council Speaker Julie Menin weighed in with a statement defending the staffer’s status. “He had legal authorization to remain in the country until October of this year,” she said.
DHS disputed that account. “He had no legal right to be in the United States. Under Secretary Noem, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States. If you come to our country illegally and break our law, we will find you, and we will arrest you.”
So you have two competing claims. One says the staffer was legally authorized. The other says he had no right to be here and had overstayed years ago. The arrest fits a clear policy: if you’re here without legal status and are accused of a crime, federal agents may step in.
This isn’t just about one case. It’s about the message leaders send. When city officials demand immediate release despite an overstayed visa and an alleged assault, it reads like political protection. Critics say that undercuts law enforcement and sends the wrong signal to immigrants and to the public.
Supporters of strict enforcement argue the law must be evenhanded. Break the law and face consequences. Public safety matters. Officials can defend constituents without ignoring immigration rules.
The facts will matter here: the visa records, the arrest report, and any court filings. For now, the dispute is playing out in public. Expect more statements. Expect political heat. And expect legal steps from both sides.