New York City Council Employee Detained by Immigration Officials in Nassau County Amid Uncertainty Over Citizenship Status
A New York City Council employee was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities at an immigration court in Nassau County, Long Island, sparking outrage among city officials and lawmakers. According to City Council Speaker Julie Menin, the employee had legitimate authorization to reside and work in the US until October 2026.
The detained individual is a central staff member who has worked as a data analyst for about a year and is believed to be of Venezuelan descent. Although the employee's identity remains unknown due to concerns over his safety, officials say he was held at an immigration detention center on Varick Street in Manhattan before being transferred back to Nassau County.
US Rep. Dan Goldman stated that the detained individual had entered the US on a tourist visa in 2017 and did not possess work authorization. However, Menin claimed that this information appears incorrect, arguing that the employee's status is legitimate and he was acting within his rights.
Menin has expressed extreme concern over what she calls "apparent overreach" by the federal government and called for swift and transparent action to secure the individual's immediate release. The US Department of Homeland Security has refused to provide further details on the detention, citing only that the employee showed up to court without proper authorization.
The incident highlights a disturbing trend in recent years of aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. "This is an assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, expressing outrage over the detention and vowing to demand his release.
Lawmakers from both New York and New Jersey have begun exploring legislation that would limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities in most cases. The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of ICE enforcement nationwide amid a series of high-profile incidents involving police shootings and excessive force.
A New York City Council employee was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities at an immigration court in Nassau County, Long Island, sparking outrage among city officials and lawmakers. According to City Council Speaker Julie Menin, the employee had legitimate authorization to reside and work in the US until October 2026.
The detained individual is a central staff member who has worked as a data analyst for about a year and is believed to be of Venezuelan descent. Although the employee's identity remains unknown due to concerns over his safety, officials say he was held at an immigration detention center on Varick Street in Manhattan before being transferred back to Nassau County.
US Rep. Dan Goldman stated that the detained individual had entered the US on a tourist visa in 2017 and did not possess work authorization. However, Menin claimed that this information appears incorrect, arguing that the employee's status is legitimate and he was acting within his rights.
Menin has expressed extreme concern over what she calls "apparent overreach" by the federal government and called for swift and transparent action to secure the individual's immediate release. The US Department of Homeland Security has refused to provide further details on the detention, citing only that the employee showed up to court without proper authorization.
The incident highlights a disturbing trend in recent years of aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. "This is an assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, expressing outrage over the detention and vowing to demand his release.
Lawmakers from both New York and New Jersey have begun exploring legislation that would limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities in most cases. The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of ICE enforcement nationwide amid a series of high-profile incidents involving police shootings and excessive force.
this is like when life slaps you with an unexpected challenge, you know? one minute you're living your best life, working hard, contributing to the community, and the next thing you know, some faceless system decides to turn your world upside down just 'cause of a piece of paper. it's like, what even is that? 
I'm getting really worried about people who are caught up in this mess 
. Can't they just be given a fair chance to sort out their papers? It's like they're being forced into hiding, afraid to show their face. What if it's all because of a tiny mistake on some paper? 
A whole year of working and contributing to the community just disappears because of something that can be fixed with some paperwork. I feel so sorry for this poor guy... 
i mean, this guy's been working legit for a year and has no reason to be here illegally. it's not like he was just waltzing over the border or something.
. The fact that his status was questioned by US Rep. Dan Goldman highlights the need for clearer guidelines on immigration policies. It's alarming to think that a person with legitimate work authorization could still face detention, it smacks of systemic bias and a lack of faith in our immigration system. The city council speaker is right, there is an apparent overreach by the federal government and swift action must be taken to release this individual immediately 
. This incident only serves as a reminder that we need to work towards more comprehensive immigration reform and protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their background 
.
. Newsflash: just 'cause you're different doesn't mean you're a threat! And what's with the secrecy around this whole thing? The US Department of Homeland Security is being super tight-lipped about it, which only makes people more suspicious 
. It's just ridiculous that they're being detained over something that might be a legit misunderstanding 
.
this is so concerning... i mean, how does someone who's been living and working in the city for over a year end up being detained by immigration officials? it's like they're not even following basic procedures. 
it's just not right. we need to make sure our immigration system is fair, transparent, and humane, especially when it comes to people who are already contributing to our communities. 
, like they're trying to steal everyone's snacks. Anyway, back to this news... I mean, can you believe how fast people's lives can get turned upside down by something as simple as immigration status? I know someone who has family from Colombia and their cousin got stuck in some kinda visa limbo for ages... it's like, hello, just trying to live a life, right? 
"The rights of any citizen are paramount, and when those rights are threatened, the entire fabric of our society is imperiled." 
.
and now the guy is detained 
?! I feel for him, he's just trying to do his job and live in the country, right? 
this is just so messed up, you know? it's like they're treating people like they're just pawns or something... i mean, one minute he's working for the city, living his life, next thing you know, immigration officials come knocking and taking him away 
. We need more people standing up for these kinds of issues, you feel? It's crazy how this kind of thing just gets swept under the rug and we're left wondering why someone would do this to an innocent person... 
. As a city, we gotta stand up for our own 
️. Can't let the immigration authorities just come in here and start making arbitrary arrests without due process