NEW YORK (OnPoint) — A New York City Council employee was arrested as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown, inciting widespread outrage from city officials and prompting a protest outside the Manhattan detention center where he is currently held. Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, who has been working as a data analyst for the city, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly overstaying his tourist visa and for a previous arrest for assault, leading ICE to claim he had 'no legal right to be in the United States.'
However, City Council Speaker Julie Menin refuted this assertion, asserting that Rubio Bohorquez was legally authorized to work in the U.S. until October. Menin indicated that the council employee had successfully passed a background check and signed documentation denying any prior arrests.
Following the arrest, the New York Immigration Coalition and New York Legal Assistance Group pursued legal measures for his release, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “We are doing everything we can to secure his immediate release,” Menin stated at a news conference, calling the arrest “egregious government overreach.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani echoed this sentiment, expressing his outrage and labeling the arrest as an affront to democracy and the city’s core values. The arrest took place during a regular immigration check-in appointment at Bethpage, Long Island, a routine that quickly escalated into a detainment. Rubio Bohorquez, originally from Venezuela, had entered the United States in 2017 on a B2 tourist visa, which required him to exit the country by October of that year. Despite this, he has held his position with the City Council for approximately a year, earning a salary of about $129,315.
ICE affirmed Rubio Bohorquez’s arrest, asserting that 'criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States,' reinforcing their strict stance against undocumented immigrants. The situation has reignited discussions around employment verification processes, particularly the reliability of the E-Verify system, which many employers use to confirm workers' eligibility. Critics argue that flaws in this system leave room for discrepancies regarding work authorization, complicating situations like Rubio Bohorquez’s. As the legal battle unfolds and protests continue, the debate over immigration policies remains as contentious as ever.
However, City Council Speaker Julie Menin refuted this assertion, asserting that Rubio Bohorquez was legally authorized to work in the U.S. until October. Menin indicated that the council employee had successfully passed a background check and signed documentation denying any prior arrests.
Following the arrest, the New York Immigration Coalition and New York Legal Assistance Group pursued legal measures for his release, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “We are doing everything we can to secure his immediate release,” Menin stated at a news conference, calling the arrest “egregious government overreach.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani echoed this sentiment, expressing his outrage and labeling the arrest as an affront to democracy and the city’s core values. The arrest took place during a regular immigration check-in appointment at Bethpage, Long Island, a routine that quickly escalated into a detainment. Rubio Bohorquez, originally from Venezuela, had entered the United States in 2017 on a B2 tourist visa, which required him to exit the country by October of that year. Despite this, he has held his position with the City Council for approximately a year, earning a salary of about $129,315.
ICE affirmed Rubio Bohorquez’s arrest, asserting that 'criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States,' reinforcing their strict stance against undocumented immigrants. The situation has reignited discussions around employment verification processes, particularly the reliability of the E-Verify system, which many employers use to confirm workers' eligibility. Critics argue that flaws in this system leave room for discrepancies regarding work authorization, complicating situations like Rubio Bohorquez’s. As the legal battle unfolds and protests continue, the debate over immigration policies remains as contentious as ever.
