A Bronx food pantry that feeds thousands of New Yorkers every month has stopped distributing food after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained its founder as he arrived for an immigration court hearing, NBC New York reported. Aleksander Nilaj, founder and president of the Open Hand Association pantry on Lydig Avenue, was taken into custody on October 13, 2026, and transferred to the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey. ABC7 Eyewitness News, in reporting by Sonia Rincon, said the detention has left the community shaken and the pantry unable to operate without him.

Nilaj immigrated to New York from Albania about 20 years ago and began the pantry work after arriving, NBC New York said; the organisation says he has kept it running for 14 years, serving between 7,000 and 8,000 people a month (yaani: 7 to 8 thousand neighbours every month), many of them elderly residents who rely on its fruit, vegetables and groceries. Pantry chairman Saimir Burgaj told News 12, as cited in a community petition, 'He made sure that people in need had food on their tables for their families.' Staff say they cannot keep up with the work without Nilaj, and NBC New York reported the food bank will not distribute food until he is released.

The Department of Homeland Security gave its account in a statement shared with NBC New York: 'On October 13, 2026, ICE detained Aleksander Nilaj, an undocumented immigrant from Albania. He legally entered the United States temporarily on October 1, 2006, and after his authorised stay expired, he remained in the country illegally, violating our laws. He received due process, and on July 22, 2008, an immigration judge ordered his removal.' A community petition supporting Nilaj repeats the same DHS account of the 2006 entry and the 2008 removal order, while arguing that arresting a man at a hearing he chose to attend discourages others from showing up to court.

Congressman Ritchie Torres confirmed to News 4 that he is fighting for Nilaj's release, calling the detention 'an injustice against his family and the community that loves him' and saying, 'The federal government should focus on the most violent and dangerous criminals, not on public servants like Alex.' Torres told News 4 that Nilaj has no criminal record or charges against him and that his lawyer would demand his release by filing an appeal. Bronx residents interviewed by NBC New York echoed that view — one, identified as Alex, said Nilaj 'has been a blessing to the community' since he arrived. Supporters are asking the ICE New York City Field Office to release Nilaj while his case is reviewed and members of Congress to press for a stay of removal. No release had been reported as of NBC New York's October 20 update. (Sources: NBC New York, Ida Siegal reporting, published October 19, 2026, updated October 20, 2026; ABC7 Eyewitness News, Sonia Rincon reporting, October 2026.)