Friends and colleagues of an East Harlem delivery driver are shocked Tuesday after ICE agents, with their faces covered, detained him on the street as he left for work on Monday.
According to those close to her, Dany Santiago Chacar Raquec, 23, received a DoorDash notification on her phone shortly before 6 p.m. on April 20, accepted an order and took her bicycle from her apartment near the intersection of 106th Street and 1st Avenue, with the intention of earning some extra money for her daughter’s support in Guatemala.
However, before reaching his destination, hooded federal agents intercepted him, according to witnesses. He was last seen handcuffed and put into a vehicle.
Raquec emigrated to the United States two and a half years ago with his wife and daughter, in search of a better life in New York.
A close friend, who knows the family, spoke with the detainee’s wife, who cried as she described the difficult economic situation they face. Raquec still has debts related to the group that facilitated his trip to the United States, and his job as a delivery driver is his only source of income to cover basic needs both in New York and for family members in Guatemala.
ICE arrest generates shock in the community
Raquec’s wife is not the only one worried. His friend, who asked not to be identified, said he plans to stay with a neighbor out of fear of ICE since he lives in the same area.
“He called me around 9 pm yesterday. He asked me to get a lawyer for him. At that moment I was in shock, I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “You don’t know what can happen. I’m very afraid. I’m afraid they could arrest us too.”
The friend described Raquec as a calm person, although affected by depression due to the debts he carried.
Peter Melck Kuttel of Saint Peter’s Church, which provides legal support to people detained by ICE, said Raquec has no criminal record and it is not clear why he was detained.
“He is a delivery driver and also did minor construction work and other jobs in the city. He has no criminal record or outstanding arrest warrants,” Kuttel explained. “We are exploring all possible legal options with organizations across the city to get you help as soon as possible.”
Sources with knowledge of the case indicated that Raquec remains detained at 26 Federal Plaza, although it is expected that he will be transferred soon.
Sergio, another delivery driver and friend of Raquec, expressed confusion about what happened in New York, especially after the order signed in February by Mayor Zohran Mamdani that reinforces protections for residents regardless of their immigration status.
“One of the things is that Mamdani signed an order in New York that states that if an order from a judge is not presented, people cannot be arbitrarily detained. I don’t know if they showed a court order. Because otherwise they would have had to go directly for him,” said Sergio, whose last name is withheld to protect his identity.
Executive Order No. 13, signed on February 6, strengthens sanctuary city protections in New York to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. However, it does not completely prevent ICE from making street arrests.
“This generates panic and confusion. Something like this has not happened in a long time,” Sergio added.
