U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at press conference to discuss ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policy, at One World Trade Center in New York City, U.S., January 8, 2026. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado
Immigration agents arrested an employee from the New York City Council on Monday during a routine immigration hearing, according to Speaker Julie Menin.
Menin said at an emergency press conference that an employee was detained while attending a routine hearing at immigration offices in Bethpage, Long Island. The employee was then taken to a local detention center, where he was given one phone call and chose to call the city council's human resources department for help, Menin said.
The Speaker added that she spoke with the local Department of Homeland Security field office director, who provided no other basis for the employee being detained other than that he was at an immigration appointment. Menin said she expressed "extreme frustration" during the call.
"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," Menin said.
The employee's detainment comes at a time when tensions between immigration agents and the public are running high. Recently, an agent in Minneapolis killed a 37-year-old mother named Renee Good who was in her car trying to leave the scene of an immigration raid.
Good's killing sparked nationwide protests and renewed calls for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to either be impeached or resign.
🔴 LIVE: Speaker Menin Provides Emergency Update on @NYCCouncil Employee Detained by ICE https://t.co/l15xgWopNz
— New York City Council (@NYCCouncil) January 12, 2026