January 14, 2026 NEW YORK — What was supposed to be a standard, routine immigration hearing in Bethpage turned into a political firestorm on Monday when federal agents moved in to detain 53-year-old Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, a respected data analyst for the New York City Council.
The move has sent shockwaves through the halls of power, sparking an all-out war of words between City Hall and federal authorities.
"A Bald-Faced Lie"
The detention has ignited a furious debate over Bohorquez’s legal status. While City Council Speaker Julie Menin insists Bohorquez passed every background check and maintains a spotless criminal record, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is telling a different story.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed in a New York Times report that Bohorquez had a prior arrest for assault and had overstayed a visa in 2017.
U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman didn't hold back in his response, accusing the federal government of "gaslighting" the public.
"Her statement that the staffer ‘had no legal right to be in the United States’ is a bald-faced lie," Goldman fired back. He clarified that Bohorquez was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to the crisis in Venezuela and held valid work authorization. "In truth, the NYC Council employee was lawfully in the United States."
Tears and Fury on the Streets
The reaction on the ground has been nothing short of explosive. On Tuesday, elected officials and coworkers gathered outside a Lower Manhattan detention center, their voices raw with emotion.
Council Member Pierina Sanchez was seen fighting back tears before her composure broke into a defiant roar.
“They are not coming for just criminals. They’re coming for all of us, all of us!” Sanchez screamed to the crowd. “We will not stand for it. ICE, get the f*ck out of this city!”
Council Member Harvey Epstein echoed the sentiment, repeatedly calling the federal government’s actions “outrageous” and an “unprecedented abuse of power.”
