Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S.-born American citizen, was held by Florida authorities under a state immigration law that allows for the arrest of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Despite presenting his U.S. birth certificate, Lopez-Gomez was detained for about 24 hours before being released. His mother and advocates expressed concern that the state’s anti-immigrant fervor could lead to more incidents like this.
Lopez-Gomez was in a vehicle with others traveling to a job in Florida when he was arrested. He reported not receiving food while in custody and expressed relief upon his release. Advocates, including the Florida Immigrant Coalition, condemned the treatment of Lopez-Gomez and highlighted the impact of Florida’s immigration enforcement laws enacted under Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The incident raised concerns about racial profiling and the infringement of constitutional rights, as American citizens are protected from unreasonable search, arrest, and detention. Despite a judge determining the authenticity of Lopez-Gomez’s birth certificate, he continued to be detained at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Advocates emphasized the need for accountability and the protection of constitutional rights for all American citizens. The incident highlighted the implications of anti-immigrant legislation on individuals, families, and communities in Florida. Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition called for damages and criticized the state’s policies that undermine the rights of U.S.-born citizens.
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