Federal Immigration Officials Detain NYC Council Data Analyst of Venezuelan Descent During Routine Appointment

New York, NY – January 12, 2026 — A staff member employed by the New York City Council was taken into custody Monday by federal immigration authorities during what was described as a routine immigration appointment in Bethpage, Nassau County, sparking immediate outrage from city leaders who called the action an "egregious government overreach."

The unnamed employee, a data analyst on the Council's central staff for approximately one year, is of Venezuelan descent and held legal authorization to remain and work in the United States through October 2026, according to Council Speaker Julie Menin. Officials emphasized that the individual has no criminal record and was complying fully with immigration requirements.

The detention occurred in the afternoon when the staffer attended a scheduled check-in. After being apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, he was transferred to a federal detention facility on Varick Street in Lower Manhattan. During processing, he was permitted one phone call, which he used to alert the City Council's human resources department.

Speaking at an emergency press conference at City Hall on Monday evening, Speaker Menin condemned the incident, stating the City Council is "doing everything we can to secure his immediate release" and demanding "swift and transparent action by the federal government." She described the event as part of broader concerns about aggressive escalations in ICE enforcement tactics, with no indication from the Department of Homeland Security that the detention was related to any criminal activity.

U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-Manhattan), who joined Menin at the briefing, highlighted the employee's status as a "law-abiding immigrant with work authorization," adding that the individual appears to be "likely on a path to removal" despite his compliance. "Instead of getting rewarded for doing the right thing, he is arrested and detained," Goldman said.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed strong disapproval on social media, writing: "I am outraged to hear a New York City Council employee was detained in Nassau County by federal immigration officials at a routine immigration appointment. This is an assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values. I am calling for his immediate release and will continue to monitor the situation."

City Council Immigration Chair Alexa Avilés also voiced horror at the detainment of "one of our colleagues," while legal efforts are underway, including plans by the New York Legal Assistance Group to file a habeas corpus complaint on the employee's behalf.

The incident marks what officials say is the first time a City Council staffer has been detained by federal immigration authorities. It comes amid heightened national scrutiny of ICE operations following the Trump administration's push for expanded enforcement and mass deportations, including the revocation of certain temporary protections for immigrants from Venezuela and other countries.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided public comment on the specific case. City officials continue to explore all legal avenues to resolve the situation and secure the employee's release. 17GEN4.com