Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA IN THE COMMUNITY

SENATOR RIVERA SUPPORTS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN THE BRONX

This week, the Norwood News reported that a father who had been detained by ICE in early May while visiting family in Connecticut was recently released and reunited with his family in the Bronx. Thanks to our dedicated Community Outreach team, who met the father’s fiancée while canvassing and connected her with Hands Off NYC, the family was able to receive guidance and support during the process. Senator Rivera remains committed to standing with our neighbors and supporting immigrant communities. Read the Norwood News article here.

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON IN MOURNING THE DEATH OF 1-YEAR OLD IN FIRE AT BAINBRIDGE AVENUE

SENATOR RIVERA HOLDS NEW HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING

This week, Senator Rivera held his seventh Health Committee meeting of the year. All 20 bills on the agenda passed including his:

 S.3100A - Expands coverage for the treatment of asthma to include a second rescue and maintenance inhaler, along with any medically necessary devices for children under nineteen years of age.

 S.5229A - Provides for updates to rates for residential health care facilities.



 S.5401 - Establishes the clinical trial access and education fund to provide grants to eligible applicants to provide certai

SENATOR RIVERA RECEIVES 32BJ SEIU'S HEALTH CARE CHAMPION AWARD

This week, Senator Rivera joined 32BJ SEIU during their Health Care Champion Awards celebration. He was honored to receive an award for himself and on behalf of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins. Thank you to Manny Pastreich, President of 32BJ SEIU, for the recognition During this special event, Senator Rivera was reminded that there are so many people in our State, legislators and labor leaders alike, purposefully working to deliver healthcare affordability and support working New Yorkers.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS & RESOURCES

NYC Small Business Month Expo

Thursday, May 28 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

60 Pine Street, Manhattan

Registration Link

Free resources, consultations, workshops, and networking to help solve the six top challenges NYC small business owners face – all in one place! 

• Fund Your Business 
  
• Grow Your Business 
  
• Find & Retain Talent 
  
• Build Your Customer Base 
  
• Save Time & Money 
  
• Access Legal Services...and more! 
  

Please Help Us Spread the Word

The following materials are available to make it as easy as possible to promote to your networks: 

• Printable flyers (translated in 10 languages)
  
• PowerPoint slide for presentations
  
• Copy for newsletters and standalone emails
  
• SBS social media posts to amplify on the following channels: 
  
• Facebook
  
• Instagram
  
• LinkedIn
  
• Twitter/X
  

Thank you for your partnership, see below for a list of helpful links, and we hope to see your constituents at the Expo on May 28!

• Promotional Toolkit - Contains email templates, social media posts, and flyers in multiple languages
  
• Community Partner Promotional Briefing - today at 3pm!
  
• NYC Small Business Month Info

New SNAP Work Requirements: What You Need to Know New federal rules are changing SNAP work requirements for some New Yorkers. Starting this year, certain adults may need to work, attend job training, or volunteer to keep their benefits. You may be affected if you are: ● Between ages 18–64 ● Not living with a child under 14 ● Not exempt due to a health condition or other reason  If these rules apply to you, you may need to take action each month to avoid losing your SNAP benefits.  Check your status and learn what to do: on.nyc.gov/snap.

JOIN A NYC PARKS RECREATION CENTER NEAR YOU!

• Hunts Point Recreation Center | 765 Manida St., Bronx, N.Y.
• Kwame Ture Recreation Center | 1527 Jesup Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
• St. James Recreation Center | 2530 Jerome Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
• St. Mary’s Recreation Center (reopening soon) | 450 Saint Ann’s Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
• Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center | 3225 Reservoir Oval E. Bronx, N.Y.

 

To find out more about what our centers offer and membership, pls use the following link - https://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation-centers/membership

JOIN THE ANIMAL CARE CENTERS OF NYC HOSTS MOBILE ADOPTION & OUTREACH EVENTS

JOB OPPORTUNITY WITH THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)'s Division of Environmental Health/Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation is actively recruiting qualified candidates for the high-priority vacancy of Public Health Inspector, Level I (Multiple Vacancies Available). Candidates in possession of the minimum qualification requirements of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, or physiology are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about this job opening and application, click link here. In addition, DOHMH will hold an in-person hiring event in the second week of June. All interested candidates must immediately engage in the following three (3) steps:   1) Immediately complete the survey enclosed in this link https://nycdohmh.surveymonkey.com/r/TFVFXX7 by uploading your resume and unofficial school transcript for review by Hiring Managers. 2) Indicate your availability for the hiring event in the second week of June: Event Schedule: Session 1: Registration: 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM Presentation, Writing Sample, and PHS Talk: 9:30 AM (boardroom) Interviews: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Session 2: Registration: 1 – 1:30 PM Presentation, Writing Sample, and PHS Talk: 1:30 PM (boardroom) Interviews: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM   3) Register for our Career Information Session on Thursday 6/4/26 between 10:30AM – 12:00PM. Registration Link: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/297f7625-cb0a-4b59-99b5-1cd43bcad56d@69c73202-5c6f-48f1-a1ac-e1b0ef826a1e   Candidates who complete all three steps as described above and meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position will be sent a follow-up email invite for our upcoming In-Person Food Safety & Community Sanitation Hiring Event! In the interim, should you require additional information about this job opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact bfscsrecruitment@health.nyc.gov or Recruit@health.nyc.gov.

Trump Administration Delivers a Full Year of Zero Releases at the Border

 

Today, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the U.S. Border Patrol’s twelfth consecutive month of zero releases at the border, continuing the trend of historically low border crossings.

“Twelve straight months of ZERO releases at the border. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “The days of catch and release are over. We are enforcing the nation’s laws and sending illegal aliens back to their home countries.”

“What a difference, America! The U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into our country again this month, unlike April 2024 when more than 68,000 were released under President Biden,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “Every minute of every day President Trump’s border security policies are making every American safer.”

The sustained decline in illegal border crossings and apprehensions—now at levels not seen in over three decades—shows the impact of robust enforcement policies. With daily apprehensions down 95% from the previous administration and 15 consecutive months of fewer than 9,000 southwest border apprehensions, the border remains more secure than at any point in history.

Below is a snapshot of April’s key figures. Full monthly reporting can be viewed on CBP’s Stats and Summaries webpage.

Border Enforcement at Historic Levels

Illegal crossings in April remained historically low:

• Southwest border apprehensions were 94% lower than under Biden
  • The U.S. Border Patrol’s apprehensions along the southwest border in April (8,943) were 94% lower than the monthly average of the Biden administration and 96% below the peak of the Biden administration (December 2023). They were also less than what was apprehended in 3 days in April 2024.
• Border crossings this entire fiscal year to date were lower than the monthly average the last 30 years
  • Total U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border during all of this fiscal year through April were 37% lower than just one month on average from FYs 1992 through 2024.
• Daily average apprehensions in April were 94% lower than under Biden
  • The U.S. Border Patrol’s average number of apprehensions per day along the southwest border in April (298) were 94% lower than the daily average under the Biden administration.
  • The number of U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions per day in April was less than a single hour during the height of the Biden administration (336 per hour in December 2023) and less than the number apprehended every 2 hours on average under the Biden administration.
• CBP’s total encounters this fiscal year to date are lower than April 2024 alone
  • This fiscal year’s encounters (215,876) are 13% lower than in the month of April 2024 alone.

Drug Interdictions That Save Lives

CBP remains on the frontline against drug smuggling, seizing dangerous narcotics before they reach American communities.

Nationwide in April, seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana (combined, by weight) increased 60% from April 2024. In April 2026, heroin seizures increased 73% compared with March 2026 and methamphetamine seizures increased 63%. CBP seized 463 pounds of fentanyl in April.

CBP has seized 61% more drugs this fiscal year through April than it seized during the same period of FY 2024, and CBP seized 53% more drugs this fiscal year than it seized on average during the last four years in this same period.

Additional CBP drug seizure statistics can be found on the Drug Seizure Statistics webpage. 

Trade and Tariff Enforcement

CBP plays a central role in enforcing U.S. trade law and supporting economic security.

• $312 billion in imports processed in April 2026.
• $21.6 billion in duties identified for collection.

Protecting Consumers and Supply Chains

CBP continues to safeguard the American economy by targeting forced labor and counterfeit goods.

• In April, CBP stopped 263 shipments valued at more than $810 million for potential forced labor violations.
• CBP seized a quantity of 2,983,850 counterfeit goods valued at over $1.5 billion.

Agriculture Stats/Seizures – Securing American Agriculture

In April, CBP agriculture specialists helped protect America’s agriculture, natural resources, and economic prosperity.

• CBP issued 7,181 emergency action notifications for restricted and prohibited plant and animal products entering the United States.
• CBP conducted 105,437 positive passenger inspections and issued 690 civil penalties and/or violations to the traveling public for failing to declare prohibited agriculture items.

Mamdani Administration Begins Work on Lexington Avenue Bus Lane Upgrades

 

New offset bus lanes will improve service for 71,000 daily riders 

 

Similar projects have increased bus speeds by 26% and reduced pedestrian injuries by 35% 

A Staten Island express bus travels along Lexington Avenue’s bus lane in Manhattan. Credit: NYC DOT

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced work has begun to upgrade bus lanes on eight blocks of Lexington Avenue, from 60th Street to 52nd Street.  

 

The project will replace existing curbside bus lanes with offset bus lanes, helping keep lanes clear of illegal parked vehicles and speeding up bus service for 71,000 daily riders traveling from the Bronx, Staten Island and Manhattan. 

 

“New Yorkers deserve buses that move quickly and reliably, not buses stuck in traffic because someone decided to treat a bus lane like a parking spot,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Offset bus lanes work because they keep lanes clear and buses moving. This is exactly the kind of small-but-mighty fix that makes life better for working people across our city.” 

 

“Upgrading bus lanes from curbside to offset speeds up buses and keeps pedestrians safe,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “This project will benefit tens of thousands of riders who rely on Lexington Avenue to get to work, see family and enjoy all our city has to offer.” 

 

“The Mamdani administration will be thinking big on the next generation of bus service, but we also have to get the little things right. The existing curbside lanes on Lexington Avenue are often blocked, leading to bus speeds that are only just slightly faster than walking for more than 70,000 bus riders relying on the corridor each day,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “When we’ve delivered similar upgrades, we’ve seen tremendous benefits for better bus service and safer streets. We look forward to continued partnership with the MTA to deliver faster, more reliable service across the city.” 

 

The redesign follows a similar upgrade completed in 2019 on Lexington Avenue from East 96th Street to East 60th Street. After NYC DOT converted that corridor from curbside to offset bus lanes, bus speeds increased by 26% and pedestrian injuries declined by 35%.  

 

This stretch of Lexington Avenue serves eight bus routes from the Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan: BxM1, M101, M102, M103, SIM11, SIM22, SIM26, and SIM6. Bus speeds along the corridor average just 5 mph during daytime hours because vehicles frequently block the existing curbside lane for deliveries, pickups and drop-offs. 

 

Under the new design, this portion of Lexington Avenue will include two parking lanes, one bus lane and two general travel lanes.  

 

The Lexington Avenue project is one of several bus lane redesigns now underway across the city as the spring construction season ramps up. NYC DOT recently began work on bus lane upgrades along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The agency has also committed to redesigning bus lanes on Fordham Road in the Bronx later this year. 

Tren de Aragua Leader Extradited on Terrorism and International Drug Distribution Charges

 

First TdA Member Extradited from Colombia to the United States

A 24-year-old Venezuelan national is set to make his initial appearance in Houston federal court for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and significant drug trafficking offenses.

Jose Enrique Martinez Flores also known as “Chuqui,” 24, is alleged to be a high-ranking leader of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) in Bogota, Colombia, and is part of the inner circle of senior TdA leadership.

Colombian authorities arrested Flores in Colombia on March 31, 2025, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested. He arrived in Houston ahead of his initial appearance on Friday, May 15 at 10 a.m. in the Southern District of Texas.

According to the allegations, Flores is charged with one count of conspiring to provide material support to TdA in the form of personnel (including himself) and services and one count of providing material support to TdA. The indictment also alleges international drug distribution conspiracy based on his involvement in the distribution of five kilograms of cocaine or more in Colombia intended for distribution in the United States. The charges allege the proceeds were used to further TdA’s criminal goals.

As a TdA leader, Flores allegedly oversaw criminal activities in Colombia such as drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution, and murder.

A federal grand jury in Houston returned a second superseding indictment Dec. 16, 2025, which also charges three other TdA leaders - Yohan Jose Romero also known as "Johan Petrica," 48, Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez also known as "Juancho," 45, and Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano also known as "El Viejo," 38, for conspiring to provide and providing material support to TdA. Mosquera Serrano is also named in the conspiracy and distribution of cocaine charges along with Flores.

The Department of State designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist on Feb. 20, 2025.

If convicted, Flores faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

The Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jose Romero and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Mosquera Serrano.

This case is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from FBI; DEA; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department; Harris County Sheriff's Office; ATF; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation and IRS Criminal Investigation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.

Colombian National Police (Policía Nacional de Colombia) and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General de la Nación), Justice Department’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, and Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the provisional arrest and extradition of Flores to the United States.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Statement From D.A. Bragg On The Harvey Weinstein Mistrial

 

While we are disappointed that the proceedings ended with a mistrial, we deeply respect the jury system and sincerely thank all of the jurors for their time and dedication.

For nearly a decade, Jessica Mann has fought for justice. Over the course of many weeks during three separate trials, she relived unthinkably painful experiences in front of complete strangers. Her perseverance and bravery are inspiring to the members of my office, and more importantly, to survivors everywhere.

We will consider our next steps in consultation with Ms. Mann, and in consideration of Harvey Weinstein’s pending sentencing following last year’s trial conviction for forcibly sexually assaulting Miriam Haley.

As always, we will continue to prosecute crimes of sexual violence – no matter who the defendant is – in a survivor-centered manner that uplifts their voices in the pursuit of justice.