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Following outrage from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the arrest of a metropolis council worker, the Division of Homeland Safety shared that the person arrested is an unlawful immigrant with a earlier arrest for assault.
According to DHS, the worker, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, 53, is a “prison unlawful alien” from Venezuela. The company mentioned that regardless of Rubio Bohorquez being employed by the town council of America’s largest metropolis, he has no work authorization and was illegally employed.
Additional, DHS mentioned that Rubio Bohorquez has a prison historical past, together with an arrest for assault in New York.
Rubio Bohorquez entered the USA on a B2 vacationer visa in 2017, which required him to depart the identical yr, in line with DHS.
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DHS mentioned the New York Metropolis Council worker it arrested, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, is a Venezuelan unlawful immigrant with a prison historical past. (DHS)
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin referred to as the truth that “a prison unlawful alien with no authorization” was employed by the New York City Council “stunning.”
“This takes sanctuary city to a complete new degree,” mentioned McLaughlin.
“This criminal illegal alien has no authority to be within the U.S. and has a earlier arrest for assault. Underneath President Trump and Secretary Noem, the USA is not a secure haven for criminals,” she added.
Mamdani and different metropolis leaders demanded the person’s launch on Monday.
“I’m outraged to listen to a New York Metropolis Council worker was detained in Nassau County by federal immigration officials at a routine immigration appointment,” Mamdani wrote in a press release on X.
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New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani was elected in November 2025 and sworn-in as the town’s first socialist mayor on Jan. 1, 2026. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos)
He referred to as the arrest “an assault on our democracy, on our metropolis, and our values,” including, “I’m calling for his instant launch and can proceed to watch the state of affairs.”
New York Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin held a press convention demanding the worker’s launch on Monday. She claimed that the worker had been cleared to stay within the U.S. till October 2026.
DHS, nevertheless, maintains that he has no authorization to even be within the U.S.
“DHS confirmed that this worker had gone in for a routine court docket appointment and was however detained. They offered no different foundation for his detainment,” Menin mentioned throughout a press briefing on Monday. “Quite the opposite, he was a metropolis council worker who’s doing the whole lot proper. He went to the court docket when he was requested.”
New York AG Letitia James (left) beside New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Getty)
Menin mentioned the worker works as a knowledge analyst and has held the job for roughly one yr.
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New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James threw her weight behind requires the worker’s launch later Monday.
A spokesperson for James shared a press release from James wherein she mentioned, “We won’t stand for assaults on our metropolis, its public servants, and its residents.”
Fox Information Digital additionally reached out to Mamdani and the New York Metropolis Council for remark however didn’t instantly obtain a response.
Fox Information Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
