An employee of the New York City Council was detained by federal immigration officials Monday during a routine appointment out on Long Island, according to city officials.
Council Speaker Julie Menin said the employee was picked up by ICE on Monday afternoon during an appointment in Bethpage, New York. He had reportedly had legal authorization to be in the country through October of 2026.
“We are doing everything we can to secure his immediate release, and we demand swift and transparent action by the federal government on this apparent overreach,” the speaker said in a statement.
“Across the nation, we have seen aggressive escalations by ICE that raise serious concerns on the use of excessive force and a lack of accountability.”
The speaker did not disclose further details about the role of the staffer.
Menin scheduled a 6:45 p.m. press conference to provide additional details about the incident.
