A US citizen was held for pickup by ICE even after proving he was born in the country
Advertisement
The charge of illegal entry into Florida was dropped Thursday after his mother showed the judge his state identification card, birth certificate and Social Security card, said Kennedy, who attended the hearing. Court records show Judge Lashawn Riggans found no basis for the charge.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Lopez Gomez briefly remained in custody after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requested that he remain there for 48 hours, a common practice when the agency wants to take custody of someone. ICE did not respond to a request for comment.
The case drew widespread attention because ICE is not supposed to take custody of U.S.-born citizens. While the immigration agency can occasionally get involved in cases of naturalized citizens who committed offenses such as lying on immigration forms, it has no authority over people born in the U.S. Adding to the confusion is that a federal judge had put a hold on enforcement of the Florida law against people who are in the country illegally entering the state, which meant it should not have been enforced.
Advertisement
'No one should be arrested under that law, let alone a U.S. citizen,' said Alana Greer, an immigration attorney from the Florida Immigrant Coalition. 'They saw this person, he didn't speak English particularly well, and so they arrested him and charged him with this law that no one (should) be charged with.'
Associated Press reporter Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
16 minutes ago
- CBS News
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux clarifies immigration stance amid criticism
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux is taking on criticism following comments made during a recent interview about his department's stance on immigration enforcement. It was last week that Comeaux was seen and heard on a Fox News interview saying, "Pick another city. Don't come to Dallas, you are not welcome." While he was asked about immigration enforcement earlier in the interview, he said those words weren't aimed directly at immigrants in the country illegally, as many were led to believe. During a news conference late last week, the city's top cop addressed those comments. "That message is for all the felon warrants out there," said Comeaux. "That's who that message was to." He clarified his stance on immigration and working with federal law enforcement partners. "Our stance hasn't changed since I've been here," Comeaux said. "I've said the exact same thing every time about immigration. We're going to do the right thing. We're going to do our jobs, and we will not be searching for immigrants. We have no special programs where we are searching for immigrants." He did say Dallas police would be willing to assist all federal agencies that request help, including immigration authorities. "If DEA, FBI, ATF, HSI, ERO needs our assistance as a law enforcement partner, we will be there to help them," said Comeaux. It's the same stance that has been taken with previous Dallas police chiefs. Former interim Dallas police chief emphasized community with immigration enforcement policy In February, then-interim chief Michael Igo highlighted the importance of trust between law enforcement and the community for public safety, telling the community that officers will not inquire about immigration status unless necessary for specific investigations. "Trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve is essential to public safety," Igo said. "All persons should know that they should never hesitate to report crimes, seek help, or cooperate with police." He emphasized the department's priorities, including investigating crimes, responding to emergencies, reducing violent crimes, and protecting constitutional rights. He reiterated that Dallas PD will not participate in immigration enforcement efforts but will assist in the arrest of individuals wanted for criminal offenses, regardless of their immigration status. Igo also said that arrests and raids would not be carried out in churches, schools or hospitals, but said that illegal immigrants with outstanding warrants were at risk of deportation. Afterward, Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation and issued a formal request for records concerning the Department's "refusal to comply with state and federal immigration laws." Trump's evolving immigration policies In January, Trump signed off on local law enforcement assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. He also threatened to withhold federal funding from "sanctuary cities." As the Trump administration implements new strategies to reshape U.S. immigration policies, conditions for undocumented migrants, including those attending court hearings for legal status, have become more hostile, prompting some asylum-seekers to reconsider continuing their cases or to leave voluntarily. ICE agents arrest immigrants at Dallas courthouse At the Dallas federal courthouse and federal courthouses around the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been arresting immigrants who show up for their scheduled hearings. According to attorneys, this is part of a new tactic by the Trump administration to fast-track the removal of migrants who arrived in the U.S. in the past two years. With millions caught in the backlog, it can normally take years for those seeking relief to go through the immigration court process. Under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE attorneys are dropping cases against some migrants, removing their temporary protected status, and making them immediately eligible for arrest and deportation. This is happening during what's called a master calendar docket, a check-in early in the immigration case process. DHS defends immigration policy shift In an emailed statement to CBS News Texas, the Department of Homeland Security wrote: "Secretary Noem is reversing Biden's catch-and-release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. This administration is once again implementing the rule of law. "Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been.
CNN
16 minutes ago
- CNN
Hear from Australian journalist shot by rubber bullet during LA protests
CNN affiliate Nine News interviewed their journalist Lauren Tomasi after reporting on the Los Angeles protests in California. The Australian journalist spoke about the moment she was shot with a rubber bullet during the immigration protests.
USA Today
18 minutes ago
- USA Today
New Jersey Democrat indicted over ICE facility altercation, calls charges 'political intimidation'
New Jersey Democrat indicted over ICE facility altercation, calls charges 'political intimidation' Show Caption Hide Caption Newark mayor Ras Baraka sues over arrest at ICE facility Newark mayor Ras Baraka announced he's suing two federal officials who he allege ordered his arrest at an ICE facility in New Jersey. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-New Jersey, was indicted on three counts related to a confrontation with law enforcement last month at a Newark immigration detention center. Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the indictment on June 10. "While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve," Habba said in a post on X. McIver was visiting the facility along with fellow Democratic Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez. An altercation occurred after officers arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who attempted to join the trio in their visit. McIver is said to have then "slammed her forearms" into immigration officers, according to the criminal complaint against her. If convicted, she could face up to 17 years in prison for all three counts. Was it an overreaction? Trump deploys thousands of National Guard, Marines to Los Angeles The congresswoman has denied the accusations, saying they are unjustified. 'The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation,' McIver said in a statement reacting to the indictment. Members of Congress, by law, can visit immigrant detention facilities unannounced. McIver's lawyer, Paul Fishman, who served as U.S. attorney in New Jersey during the Obama administration, said that the "legal process will expose this prosecution for what it truly is — political retaliation against a dedicated public servant who refuses to shy away from her oversight responsibilities." The indictment came the same day voters in New Jersey took to the polls to pick their Democratic and Republican nominees for governor. Baraka, whose arrest sparked McIver's standoff with officers, ran for the Democratic nomination but lost to Rep. Mikie Sherrill. Contributing: Sarah Wire, USA TODAY; Katie Sobko,
