US Citizen Sues After ICE Detains Him Twice
A construction worker from Florida, now living in Baldwin County, Alabama, is suing the federal government after being detained twice this year by immigration authorities, despite being a U.S. citizen. Leonardo Garcia Venegas filed a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that the arrests were part of a broader pattern of immigration raids unfairly targeting Latino workers, according to ABC News.
The complaint details two incidents—one in May and another in June—during which armed immigration officers reportedly arrived at job sites and focused on workers who appeared Latino, bypassing non-Latino employees. Venegas says he was arrested in May after attempting to record the detention of his brother at the same worksite, according to AL.com. In both cases, he identified himself as a U.S. citizen and presented his REAL ID, but was not released immediately.
The lawsuit argues that these actions violated Venegas’ Fourth Amendment rights and reflect a policy allowing immigration officers to conduct broad searches and seizures without warrants. His legal team contends that the Department of Homeland Security authorizes such operations based on assumptions about workers’ immigration status, resulting in discriminatory enforcement. The complaint also cites 19 other cases where U.S. citizens or legal residents were allegedly detained under similar circumstances.
Venegas’ filing states, “When he goes to work on private property, Leo expects the freedom, as an American, to work in peace,” according to the Alabama Reflector.
A DHS spokesperson disputes the allegations, telling ABC News that U.S. citizens are not arrested or deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless they obstruct law enforcement efforts. DHS claims Venegas was detained because he interfered with the arrest of another individual, not because of his citizenship. No charges were ultimately filed against him. “It feels like there is nothing I can do to stop immigration agents from arresting me whenever they want,” Venegas said in a statement, per the Reflector.
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