A federal judge determined on Wednesday that New York City Council employees who are undocumented must face deportation, a ruling that has upset Democratic Socialist Mayor Zoran Mamdani.
This case involves 53-year-old Rafael Andrés Rubio Bojorquez, originally from Venezuela, who worked as a data analyst for the council, according to CBS News.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that he exceeded the duration of his 2017 tourist visa, faced assault charges, and is not legally permitted to work in the United States.
A DHS spokesperson announced, “Today, an immigration judge issued a final removal order for New York City Council employee Rafael Andres Rubio Bojorquez, an undocumented individual from Venezuela. His criminal record includes arrests for assault. This ruling upholds the rule of law, and ICE will act swiftly to deport him back to his home country.”
Since January, the man has been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mayor Mamdani expressed his outrage at Bojorquez’s detention back then, as reported by Breitbart News.
Reports indicate that the city is housing thousands of undocumented immigrants with criminal records, shielding them from immigration enforcement, which aligns with President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrant crimes nationwide.
In a Wednesday social media post, Mamdani described the judge’s ruling as “an insult to justice.”
“Today, an immigration judge ordered the deportation of City Council employee Rafael Rubio. This represents a disregard for justice. Mr. Rafael, a committed public servant legally allowed to stay, was following the rules by appearing for a routine immigration appointment yet found himself detained for months. He deserves to be released immediately,” he stated.
According to CBS, Bojórquez’s legal team has until April 17 to appeal the deportation ruling.
The article mentioned that in February, Rubio’s lawyers indicated they would seek temporary protected status. Although the DHS terminated the Venezuelan’s protected status in October, his legal representatives continue to mount a challenge.
Meanwhile, City Council President Julie Menin attributed the situation to a technical issue and asserted that her team is working towards Bojorquez’s release, as reported by ABC 7.
“Today, a federal immigration judge wrongfully ordered the deportation of our congressional member, Rafael Rubio. We urge ICE to release Mr. Rafael from custody and allow him to return home,” she stated in a social media post.
Menin concluded, “Mr. Rafael had legal authorization to work here; today’s decision is a grave miscarriage of justice and wholly unacceptable.”
