New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks next to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael Lipetri as they attend a press conference at NYPD headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 6, 2026. REUTERS/Angelina Katsanis
(New York, New York) – An employee of the New York City Council was detained by federal immigration authorities Monday, triggering an urgent response from city leaders who say the move amounts to government overreach. According to Council Speaker Julie Menin, the staffer was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine appointment in Bethpage, Long Island, and transported to a federal detention facility in Manhattan.
Menin said the employee is of Venezuelan descent and has legal authorization to remain in the United States through October 2026. Despite that status, federal officials allegedly offered no clear explanation for the detention beyond confirming it occurred during the appointment. “We are doing everything we can to secure his immediate release,” Menin said, calling the incident an alarming escalation in ICE enforcement practices.
The detention prompted an emergency press conference at City Hall, where Menin was joined by Rep. Dan Goldman and several council members. Mayor Zohran Mamdani also weighed in, calling the action “an assault on our democracy” and demanding the staffer’s immediate release.
City officials said the staffer was given one phone call after being detained and chose to contact the council’s human resources department. While the city has not disclosed the employee’s role, leaders argue the case highlights broader concerns about aggressive federal enforcement tactics — especially when applied to individuals who appear to be in the country legally and working in public service.
