On January 13, 2026, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, a staffer for the New York City Council, was detained by ICE during what should have been a routine immigration appointment. Rafael is not just another case number. He’s a valued city employee, a data analyst who passed a standard background check and had authorization to remain in the U.S. through October. He did everything right and still ended up in ICE custody.

This is not just a story about one man. It is about a federal agency undermining our city’s ability to serve its people. Rafael’s arrest sends a chilling message to immigrant communities: even when you follow the rules, you are not safe. It discourages cooperation, breeds fear, and directly contradicts the values New York stands for.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Attorney General Letitia James, and Governor Kathy Hochul have all condemned the detention. They’re right to be outraged. We should be too.

This is a dangerous abuse of federal power and an assault on local democracy. If ICE can target a government employee in a public building, who is next? No one should be punished for complying with immigration protocols, especially not someone contributing to our city’s operations.

We call on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately release Rafael Rubio Bohorquez. We demand an end to the practice of detaining immigrants during routine legal appointments, especially those employed by local government. And we urge Congress to investigate whether this was a politically motivated action targeting a public servant.

New York is a city of immigrants. We cannot let fear replace fairness, or allow federal overreach to dictate how we treat our neighbors and colleagues.

Sign this petition if you believe Rafael should be free, and that no one should be punished for playing by the rules.