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In New York City, protesters gathered in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday to demand the release of Rafael Bohorquez, a 53-year-old data analyst for the New York City Council. Bohorquez, a Venezuelan national, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine immigration check-in on Long Island on Monday. Homeland Security officials claim Bohorquez has been in the United States illegally since overstaying a tourist visa that expired in 2017. They also mentioned an arrest for assault, though it remains unclear if he was convicted.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin disputed these claims, stating that Bohorquez had legal status to remain and work in the country through Temporary Protected Status and had extended his work authorization even after President Donald Trump ended TPS for Venezuelans. Menin emphasized, "There was no indication the man had done anything illegal, and he was permitted to work for the City Council until October 2026."
City & State New York reported that Bohorquez was detained at a federal facility on Varick Street in Manhattan. Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed outrage over the detention, while Governor Kathy Hochul criticized ICE's actions, stating they "erode trust, spread fear, and violate basic principles of fairness."
An emergency press conference was held by Menin, New York Immigration Coalition President Murad Awawdeh, and other officials, where Representative Dan Goldman condemned the arrest as part of an "immigration dragnet." He warned that Bohorquez might face removal unless efforts to stop it succeed. The City Council staffers' union also organized a protest to demand Bohorquez's release.
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