ICE Detains New York City Council Employee

A New York City Council employee was detained by federal immigration enforcement agents (ICE) on January 12 during a routine visit to immigration court in Nassau County, Long Island. Gothamist tells in more detail.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin reported the incident.

Detention with a valid work permit

According to Menin, the employee had legal permission to live and work in the United States until October 2026. He has been working as a data analyst in the council's central office for about a year.

After his arrest, he contacted the City Council's human resources department. Congressman Dan Goldman reported that the employee was of Venezuelan descent.

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Menin declined to disclose further details to protect his identity.

The City Council's reaction

"We are doing everything possible to secure his immediate release. In particular, we demand that the federal government take swift and transparent action regarding this obvious abuse of power," Menin said.

According to officials, the man was transferred to the Varick Street Detention Center in Manhattan on the evening of January 12. Menin reported that the Department of Homeland Security, without providing any explanation, notified him of the possibility of a further transfer.

The speaker noted that this is the first time a city council employee has been detained by immigration authorities.

Menin emphasized that the officer "did everything correctly." The official emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security provided no justification for the arrest other than the fact that he appeared in court.

"As the speaker of the City Council, I can't even call that ICE detention center to get information or demand his [the officer's] release," she said. "That's not how government is supposed to work."

Condemnation by the authorities

The incident sparked a sharp response from city and federal lawmakers, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. He posted on the X platform expressing his outrage at the detention of his employee and demanding his immediate release.

"This is an attack on our democracy, our city, and our values," Mamdani wrote. "I demand his [the employee's] immediate release and will continue to monitor the situation."

Dan Goldman supported this position, calling the incident part of a broader campaign against immigrants, including those with legal status.

"Secret masked security forces are killing Americans, pulling people out of cars, out of homes, out of courtrooms," Goldman stated. "Now they're targeting those who serve the public by working on the New York City Council."

Possible changes in laws

Menin called the case reflective of a broader trend during the Donald Trump administration.

"We are seeing an aggressive escalation of ICE actions across the country. This raises serious concerns about excessive force and a lack of accountability," the speaker emphasized. "As New Yorkers, we will stand up for the rights and dignity of every neighbor."

The arrest occurred just days after a federal immigration officer shot and killed a woman named Renee Goode in Minneapolis. The incident sparked lawsuits, protests, and increased scrutiny of ICE practices nationwide.

Legal experts in New York and New Jersey have begun discussing legislative initiatives that could limit local government interactions with federal immigration authorities.

In Albany, supporters of the long-stalled New York for All Act announced renewed efforts to ban local police cooperation with ICE in most cases. A similar package of bills is also being advanced in New Jersey.