NEW YORK – Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, a data analyst for the New York City Council, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an immigration enforcement sweep, triggering local protests over the action. City officials are calling for his immediate release, asserting his legal right to work until October.
Speaker Julie Menin stated that Rubio Bohorquez signed documentation confirming he had never been arrested, passing the city’s standard background checks. The New York Immigration Coalition has since petitioned for his release, framing the arrest as ‘egregious government overreach.’
Menin insisted, We are doing everything we can to secure his immediate release as community members express outrage about enforcement actions affecting long-term residents. Mayor Zohran Mamdani also condemned the arrest, labeling it an “assault on our democracy.”
Rubio Bohorquez reportedly entered the U.S. in 2017 on a B2 tourist visa but has been employed by the city for a year, with his paycheck reported at $129,315.
ICE contends that Rubio Bohorquez had overstayed his tourist visa, sparking a debate over the accuracy of work authorization verification systems that many employers rely on. Activists and experts emphasize the need for reform in these systems to prevent similar cases in the future.
