‘You've No Rights Here': US Teen Tased, His Friends Detained At Florida Traffic Stop

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3 days ago

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Three teen were violently detained by Florida Highway Patrol and US Border Patrol during a traffic stop. He was charged with obstruction and sentenced to community service.
A routine traffic stop in Florida took a drastic turn on May 2 when 18-year-old US citizen Kenny Laynez-Ambrosio and his friends, including two undocumented immigrants, were violently detained by Florida Highway Patrol and US Border Patrol officers.
The incident, captured on Laynez-Ambrosio's phone, has triggered widespread outrage and increased scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement methods.
Laynez-Ambrosio was driving to a landscaping job in North Palm Beach with his mother and two male friends when their van was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol officers. After a routine ID check, the officers called for backup, and US Border Patrol agents arrived, leading to a violent arrest.
In the video footage, officers in tactical gear can be seen violently detaining the men, two of whom are undocumented. One man is put in a chokehold, another appears to be stunned with a Taser, and officers can be heard telling Laynez-Ambrosio: 'You've got no rights here. You're a migo, brother."
Laynez-Ambrosio was subjected to a violent arrest during a traffic stop in Florida. He was pushed to the ground, threatened with a stun gun and detained for six hours. Meanwhile, his two friends were taken to the Krome detention centre in Miami, but Laynez-Ambrosio believes they've since been released on bail.
Laynez-Ambrosio hadn't planned to record the encounter. 'I already had my phone out to show my mom a silly TikTok," he said, but hit record when officers grew aggressive, the Indian Express reported.
'One of the officers put his hand inside the window, popped the door open, grabbed my friend by the neck and had him in a chokehold."
The Indian Express quoted a report by The Guardian saying that despite identifying himself as a US citizen — 'I was born and raised right here" — Laynez-Ambrosio was arrested and later charged with obstruction without violence. He was sentenced to 10 hours of community service and an anger management course. During his detention, officers reportedly tried to pressure him into deleting the footage, but he refused to do so.
According to his attorney, Jack Scarola, the charge was retaliation: 'Kenny was charged with filming [and was] alleged to have interfered with the activities of law enforcement. But there was no intended interference – merely the exercise of a right to record what was happening."
'We're Going To End Up Shooting Some Of Them"
In the footage, officers can be seen making light of the violence. One Border Patrol agent can be heard saying, 'They're starting to resist more now," to which another replies: 'We're going to end up shooting some of them." Later, officers cheer: 'Goddamn! Woo! Nice!"
The specific bonus being referred to is unclear, but Trump's recent spending bill does include billions of dollars for ICE, which covers recruitment incentives and bonuses.
The Guardian reported that the Florida Highway Patrol, CBP and ICE declined to comment. But critics say the episode reflects the broader risks of state-federal cooperation on immigration enforcement.
Laynez-Ambrosio, still shaken, said he recorded the incident to protect his friends, neither of whom speaks English well.
'I wasn't really worried about myself because I knew I was going to get out of the situation. But I was worried about him. I could speak up for him but not fight back, because I would've made the situation worse," Laynez-Ambrosio said.
Despite the traumatic experience, Laynez-Ambrosio hopes the footage will raise awareness about the need for more humane treatment. 'It didn't need to go down like that. If they knew that my people were undocumented, they could've just kindly taken them out of the car and arrested them. It hurt me bad to see my friends like that. Because they're just good people, trying to earn an honest living."
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First Published:
July 26, 2025, 18:40 IST
News world 'You've No Rights Here': US Teen Tased, His Friends Detained At Florida Traffic Stop | Video
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