Federal immigration officials detained a New York City Council staffer Monday afternoon during what should have been a routine immigration appointment in Bethpage, Long Island. Speaker Julie Menin announced the arrest at an emergency press conference, stressing the Venezuelan employee's legal status until October 2026 and his role as a diligent data analyst. The incident unfolded in Nassau County ICE facility, with the staffer transferred to a Manhattan cell shortly after. Councilmember Zohran Mamdani blasted the move on X, labeling it an "assault on our democracy, on our city, and our values." He vowed to monitor closely and push for release.
