New York Governor Kathy Hochul has publicly condemned the arrest of a staffer from the New York City Council, who was taken into ICE detention. Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, a Venezuelan immigrant, had his immigration status called into question after being arrested.
Critics are questioning the legitimacy of Bohorquez's work authorization, despite having been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by the city council. However, according to reports, the staffer had provided documentation showing he was authorized to remain and work in the country. His background checks were also cleared.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services website indicates that those with TPS-related work permits issued on or before February 5, 2025, would maintain valid work authorization until October 2, 2026. Bohorquez was hired in January 2025.
Hochul stated in her State of the State address that those arrested like Bohorquez "are not the baddest of the bad" and do not pose a threat to society. The governor expressed her commitment to protecting New Yorkers from criminals while emphasizing that people of all political backgrounds share similar concerns about recent actions taken by ICE.
The city council has joined other state and local officials in publicly condemning Bohorquez's detention, with many calling for his immediate release. Several prominent officials, including City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have spoken out against the arrest, describing it as an "assault on our democracy" and a threat to their city's values.
The New York Legal Assistance Group has filed a habeas petition on Bohorquez's behalf, while State Attorney General Letitia James has demanded his immediate release. More than two dozen City Council members and staffers have also organized a rally in support of the detained staffer, urging ICE to return him home.
Bohorquez is currently being held at an Orange County jail, according to ICE's online detainee locator. The City Council Staffers' Union president Matthew Molloy has expressed his solidarity with Bohorquez, stating that he "just wants to make this city work" and should be allowed to do so freely.
Critics are questioning the legitimacy of Bohorquez's work authorization, despite having been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by the city council. However, according to reports, the staffer had provided documentation showing he was authorized to remain and work in the country. His background checks were also cleared.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services website indicates that those with TPS-related work permits issued on or before February 5, 2025, would maintain valid work authorization until October 2, 2026. Bohorquez was hired in January 2025.
Hochul stated in her State of the State address that those arrested like Bohorquez "are not the baddest of the bad" and do not pose a threat to society. The governor expressed her commitment to protecting New Yorkers from criminals while emphasizing that people of all political backgrounds share similar concerns about recent actions taken by ICE.
The city council has joined other state and local officials in publicly condemning Bohorquez's detention, with many calling for his immediate release. Several prominent officials, including City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have spoken out against the arrest, describing it as an "assault on our democracy" and a threat to their city's values.
The New York Legal Assistance Group has filed a habeas petition on Bohorquez's behalf, while State Attorney General Letitia James has demanded his immediate release. More than two dozen City Council members and staffers have also organized a rally in support of the detained staffer, urging ICE to return him home.
Bohorquez is currently being held at an Orange County jail, according to ICE's online detainee locator. The City Council Staffers' Union president Matthew Molloy has expressed his solidarity with Bohorquez, stating that he "just wants to make this city work" and should be allowed to do so freely.
. Can't even give some dude his daily Wi-Fi and now he's in trouble 
. TPS or not, someone's gotta take responsibility for this mess 
.
Whatever it is, it needs to be sorted out ASAP and Bohorquez should be released immediately.
. The fact that he had the right docs and everything is just, like, so extra 
. And, omg, have you seen all these ppl coming together for him? 
like, the city council staffers' union president saying he just wants to work and do his job... that's so cool! 
. The fact that so many officials are coming out in support of him just goes to show that ICE has got it all wrong this time 
. Maybe instead of making a big fuss over one guy, they should focus on helping people who actually need help? 
just heard about the arrest of a NYC council staffer who's a Venezuelan immigrant... like what is going on? He had docs showing he was supposed to have work perm, but apparently ICE didn't check or something 
this guy just wants to make a living and serve his community, no reason for him to be in detention 
ICE is basically just picking on people for political reasons, it's so messed up 
And what even is up with the documentation process? 
Apparently, it's complicated enough that some people are questioning Rafael's work authorization status. 
i mean come on folks if u got issues w/ his immigration status, let's have a calm convo not stage a city hall rally 
and btw did someone check if kathy hochul's staff even do background checks 
. My grandma used to work in the city council too, she always said how important it was to have good, hardworking people serving their communities. This whole thing is a shame, it's like we're taking away someone's chance at the American dream...
As a staffer in NYC, we know how hard it is to get those work permits sorted out. And now this guy's being held up over some minor hiccups. It's not just about the dude, it's about the principle. ICE can't just start arresting ppl w/ TPS because they don't feel like it 
And what really gets me is that Governor Hochul is trying to spin this as some kind of "assault on our democracy" thing... like, hello, she's a governor, not a politician with an agenda 
. Just release the guy already! 
The governor's words about him not being the "baddest of the bad" seem reasonable, but I feel like ICE is getting a bit too aggressive with their arrests lately 
and now ICE is all like "nope"? it's not right. I mean I get that everyone wants to enforce laws and all, but this feels like a whole lotta politics 
... and what's up with the gov saying he's not bad? that's just vague 
and I gotta respect that. I hope this guy gets released ASAP 
People who are desperate for a chance to build a new life in America shouldn't be held back by outdated policies. We need to recognize the humanity in everyone, regardless of their immigration status or background. It's not about being "good" or "bad", it's about treating people with dignity and respect 
. And I mean, come on, Governor Hochul is basically saying that these people aren't "the worst" of the worst, but it still feels like a pretty big overreach