Why did local authorities completely disregard a federal court ruling in order to arrest Lopez Gomez, and then disregard the fact he’s a natural-born U.S. citizen? Is this a mistake, or are they taking their lead from the president, who is currently disregarding a court order from the Supreme Court?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested a U.S. citizen for entering the state of Florida as an “unauthorized alien.”
Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez will remain in jail for 48 hours under an ICE hold, according to the Florida Phoenix. His mother and a community advocate presented his birth certificate and Social Security card during a hearing in Leon County, but the judge said that she had no authority to release him due to the court’s jurisdiction.
Another source.
Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, met Gomez-Perez at the courthouse. He said Lopez-Gomez’s case is exactly what his organization has been warning lawmakers would happen.
“It was just really sad seeing the mother distraught over her son, and the fact that she acknowledged that this is very likely a case of racial profiling against a U.S. citizen who can’t speak English,” he said in a phone interview with the Phoenix.
Sometimes, just having the wrong last name can be enough to be detained. Welcome to my world of the 1950s.
Another Source.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) wrote to leadership at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding their enforcement practices, specifically highlighting a March 5th incident where a U.S. citizen and Virginia resident was stopped and interrogated by ICE. The individual reports that he made multiple attempts to prove his citizenship, but despite these efforts, was handcuffed and questioned about his immigration status.
In an interview with local media, the citizen provided details of his arrest, claiming that officers, who were looking for a different individual with a deportation order, rebuffed multiple attempts to provide identification and despite being told he was a U.S. citizen, continued to question his immigration status.
“All Virginians, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, deserve to be treated with respect and must be properly afforded their rights as expressed in the U.S. Constitution. Any law enforcement performing immigration enforcement must abide by the U.S. Constitution and federal law. When ICE agents violate or create the appearance of a violating the rights of their fellow citizens, it does harm to all Virginians and all Americans,” Sen. Warner wrote.
He continued, “Undisciplined, hostile, or threatening enforcement actions by ICE will hinder relationships with local communities, further compromising trust and safety and risk potentially degrading ICE’s enforcement efforts and officer safety. Given DHS’ recent emphasis on the safety of its law enforcement agents, particularly ICE, I expect you share my concern for the risks to Virginians and law enforcement alike created by a perception of capricious or unjustified action taken against U.S. citizens.”
