New York officials turned to performative “outrage” while skirting facts about a city employee detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a “routine” appointment.
With plans for a protest already set for Tuesday, elected officials, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), were quick to sell a narrative after an employee of the New York City Council was detained by ICE on Monday. As their feelings once again gave no regard for the facts, calls for the employee’s “immediate release” gave no mention that the employee reportedly had a criminal history and was in the country illegally.
Weighing in on the detention of 53-year-old Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, Hizzoner took to X Monday evening and expressed, “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,” he continued before posturing in a similar fashion to how he’d claimed to have been “briefed” on the apprehension of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. “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
Mamdani’s narrative advancing venting does not alter the facts of the case, detailed in a statement by Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, to include entry into the United States by the foreign national in 2017 via a B2 tourist visa that required departure no later than Oct. 22 of that year.
“He had no legal right to be in the United States,” explained McLaughlin as DHS referenced a criminal history including assault. “Under [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] 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.”
According to the New York Post, the detainee used his one phone call to contact the city council’s human resources department.
Meanwhile, as PIX 11 reported, a rally in support of the detainee was already planned for Tuesday outside the Varick Street ICE offices, and Mamdani’s fellow outrage peddlers stepped up to their respective soapboxes to serve the narrative.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) posted to X, “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.”
New York Rep. Dan Goldman (D) used similar language as he asserted the employee was “following the rules,” and that he was working with NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin (D) on securing the man’s release.
For her part, the speaker said, “This afternoon, a City Council employee was detained by federal immigration officials at a routine immigration appointment. He had legal authorization to remain in the country until October of this year.”
Calling the detainment “overreach,” Menin went on, “Across the nation, we have seen aggressive escalations by ICE that raise serious concerns on the use of excessive force and a lack of accountability.”
That post was shared by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who contended, “This is exactly what happens when immigration enforcement is weaponized. Detaining people during routine court appearances doesn’t make us safer. It erodes trust, spreads fear, and violates basic principles of fairness. We will continue to stand up for the rights of New Yorkers.”
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
Today, ICE detained an NYC Council employee during a routine and required immigration check-in – yet another example of targeting immigrants lawfully here and following the rules.
My office is working with @SpeakerMenin to secure the immediate release of this individual.
We…
— Rep. Dan Goldman (@RepDanGoldman) January 13, 2026
This is exactly what happens when immigration enforcement is weaponized.
Detaining people during routine court appearances doesn’t make us safer. It erodes trust, spreads fear, and violates basic principles of fairness.
We will continue to stand up for the rights of New… https://t.co/uj1yYVk92R
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) January 13, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Portland pizzeria claims victimhood after unhinged anti-ICE rant goes viral - February 17, 2026
- Failed efforts to keep Anderson Cooper at ’60 Minutes’ provides new opportunity to bash Weiss - February 17, 2026
- Orwell-quoting judge overrides Trump’s executive order, forces restoration of museum’s slavery exhibits - February 17, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.