City Council members, alongside the Association of Legislative Employees and advocates, on Tuesday demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials release a council employee who was detained.

“From council members to staffers to everyone who works at this institution, we’re going to do everything we can to bring them home,” Matt Malloy, president of the Association of Legislative Employees, said.  

What You Need To Know

City Council members, alongside the Association of Legislative Employees and advocates, on Tuesday demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials release a Council employee who was detained

On Monday, a council staffer, who is not being named, was detained by ICE officials after showing up for an immigration appointment on Long Island

Council Speaker Julie Menin said the staffer had legal status and the right to work in the country through October of this year

On Monday, a council staffer, who is not being named, was detained by ICE officials after showing up for an immigration appointment on Long Island. 

The Venezuelan immigrant used his one call to reach the council, which has denounced the move. 

“We are fighting to protect every single immigrant New Yorker yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Councilmember Lincoln Restler said.

“They are not just coming for criminals. They are coming for all of us. All of us,” Councilmember Pierina Sanchez said.   

The staffer is a data analyst who works in the council’s Human Resources department. 

Council Speaker Julie Menin said the staffer had legal status and the right to work in the country through October of this year. 

But the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has disputed those claims. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlinIn, in a statement, said the staffer overstayed a tourist visa and had allegedly been arrested for assault in the past.

But both the New York and Nassau police departments told NY1 the staffer “does not have a criminal history” with them. 

“There are many times the law is b——t. The law is treated as sacred and immovable, but the truth is the law is not justice. The law is not safety. The law is not ethics. The law is a tool,” Councilmember Tiffany Cabán said.

The council staffer is believed to be held at 201 Varick Street in Lower Manhattan, where the group was protesting. 

“When we fight! We win!” protesters chanted.

Lawyers for the New York Legal Assistance Group have filed a motion challenging the detention of the staffer, known as a habeas petition, which is preventing his removal for now. 

“We are not going to stand idle when one of ours is disappearing, we will stand up,” Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa said.

The council employee is expected in court on Friday at noon for a hearing on his motion to be released.