The Department of Homeland Security has pulled back the curtain on a situation in New York City that reveals far more about so-called “sanctuary city” politics than city leaders ever intended.
After Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly fumed over the arrest of a New York City Council employee, DHS clarified exactly who was taken into custody. The individual, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, 53, is a Venezuelan national who entered the United States in 2017 on a B2 tourist visa—one that required him to leave the country that same year. As DHS noted, he didn’t. Details matter, even when certain politicians would rather gloss over them.
According to DHS, Rubio Bohorquez is a criminal illegal alien with no authorization to be in the United States and no legal permission to work, despite being employed by the city council of the largest city in the country. DHS also stated that he has a criminal history, including a prior arrest for assault in New York. But instead of addressing these facts, city leaders chose outrage—because apparently enforcing immigration law is now considered an attack on “values.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called it “shocking” that a “criminal illegal alien with no authorization” was employed by the New York City Council, adding that this situation takes the concept of a sanctuary city “to a whole new level.” And she wasn’t wrong—when local government jobs are handed out without legal status or work authorization, that’s not compassion, that’s negligence.
McLaughlin made the administration’s position clear: this individual has no authority to be in the United States and has a previous arrest for assault. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the United States is no longer a safe haven for criminals. Simple, direct, and grounded in the rule of law—imagine that.
Despite these facts, Mamdani and other city leaders demanded the man’s release. Mamdani claimed the arrest was “an assault on our democracy, on our city and our values,” while New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin insisted the employee had been cleared to remain in the country until October 2026. DHS, however, maintains that he has no authorization to even be in the U.S., period.
Menin also stated that Rubio Bohorquez works as a data analyst and has held the job for about a year, emphasizing that he attended a routine court appointment before being detained. DHS confirmed the detention occurred at that appointment, reinforcing that federal immigration enforcement is doing exactly what the law requires—no drama, no politics, just enforcement.
At the end of the day, this case highlights a sharp contrast: political outrage versus the rule of law. Under President Trump, the message is clear—laws matter, public safety matters, and America is once again serious about protecting its citizens. And that’s a direction worth being optimistic about.
