New York City Council Employee Detained by US Agents Amid Outrage Over Trump Administration's Immigration Actions
A city council employee from New York was detained by federal immigration agents during a "routine" appointment, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for his immediate release. The employee, who is legally in the country with authorization to remain until October 2026, called the council's human resources department for assistance after being taken into custody.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has described the detention as an "assault on our democracy" and has vowed to continue monitoring the situation. Council Speaker Julie Menin also denounced the action, calling it an "overreach" by the Department of Homeland Security.
Menin stated that the employee had been transferred to a detention center in Manhattan without any basis for his detention, adding that this was part of a broader pattern of aggressive escalations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The actions have raised serious concerns about excessive force and lack of accountability.
Democratic New York congressman Dan Goldman emphasized that the detained individual is a "law-abiding immigrant with work authorization" who has done nothing to warrant arrest. Goldman also highlighted the targeting of immigration appointments as a trap set for those following the law, as experts have warned about this tactic.
The incident comes amid a surge in ICE deployments and plans to escalate their actions this year, despite growing protests over violent and disruptive tactics used by officers under the Trump administration's deportation agenda.
In related news, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging excessive use of force, warrantless arrests, and targeting of courts, churches, and schools. The lawsuit aims to stem the surge of ICE agents flooding into the state.
Thousands of people across the country have taken to the streets this week in protest over the shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE agent.
A city council employee from New York was detained by federal immigration agents during a "routine" appointment, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for his immediate release. The employee, who is legally in the country with authorization to remain until October 2026, called the council's human resources department for assistance after being taken into custody.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has described the detention as an "assault on our democracy" and has vowed to continue monitoring the situation. Council Speaker Julie Menin also denounced the action, calling it an "overreach" by the Department of Homeland Security.
Menin stated that the employee had been transferred to a detention center in Manhattan without any basis for his detention, adding that this was part of a broader pattern of aggressive escalations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The actions have raised serious concerns about excessive force and lack of accountability.
Democratic New York congressman Dan Goldman emphasized that the detained individual is a "law-abiding immigrant with work authorization" who has done nothing to warrant arrest. Goldman also highlighted the targeting of immigration appointments as a trap set for those following the law, as experts have warned about this tactic.
The incident comes amid a surge in ICE deployments and plans to escalate their actions this year, despite growing protests over violent and disruptive tactics used by officers under the Trump administration's deportation agenda.
In related news, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has announced a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging excessive use of force, warrantless arrests, and targeting of courts, churches, and schools. The lawsuit aims to stem the surge of ICE agents flooding into the state.
Thousands of people across the country have taken to the streets this week in protest over the shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE agent.