Latest news with #ShelahVenegas
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
U.S. citizen with REAL ID detained by ICE
May 25 (UPI) -- An American citizen born in the United States was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers despite having a REAL ID. He was later released from custody after providing his Social Security number. The incident was first reported by Noticias Telemundo, which obtained video footage of a raid that led to the arrest of 25-year-old Leonardo Garcia Venegas at a job site in Alabama. The video shows ICE officers grabbing Venegas and putting handcuffs on him before someone off-camera yelled that he was a citizen. He told the broadcaster that authorities took his ID from his wallet before handcuffing him and dismissed it as fake. "We all made sure we have the REAL ID and went through the protocols the administration is asking for," his cousin Shelah Venegas said. "He has his REAL ID and then they see him and I guess because his English isn't fluent and/or because he's brown, it's fake." Shelah Venegas, in a post to social media, alleged that the federal authorities refused to let him identify himself and held him in handcuffs "for almost an hour" despite him yelling that he was a citizen. The Department of Homeland Security alleged in a statement to NBC News that Garcia had interfered with an arrest that was being carried out at the job site. "He physically got in between agents and the subject they were attempting to arrest and refused to comply with numerous verbal commands," said Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary. The brief video shared by Noticias Telemundo and Shelah Venegas on social media does not appear to show Leonardo Garcia Venegas getting between two agents as described. "Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties, including U.S. citizens, will of course face consequences which include arrest," McLaughlin said. A spokesperson for the agency told Newsweek that "there was no mistake" made by authorities during the encounter.
UPI
25-05-2025
- UPI
U.S. citizen with REAL ID detained by ICE
An American citizen born in the United States was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers despite having a REAL ID. Photo courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement May 25 (UPI) -- An American citizen born in the United States was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers despite having a REAL ID. He was later released from custody after providing his Social Security number. The incident was first reported by Noticias Telemundo, which obtained video footage of a raid that led to the arrest of 25-year-old Leonardo Garcia Venegas at a job site in Alabama. The video shows ICE officers grabbing Venegas and putting handcuffs on him before someone off-camera yelled that he was a citizen. He told the broadcaster that authorities took his ID from his wallet before handcuffing him and dismissed it as fake. "We all made sure we have the REAL ID and went through the protocols the administration is asking for," his cousin Shelah Venegas said. "He has his REAL ID and then they see him and I guess because his English isn't fluent and/or because he's brown, it's fake." Shelah Venegas, in a post to social media, alleged that the federal authorities refused to let him identify himself and held him in handcuffs "for almost an hour" despite him yelling that he was a citizen. The Department of Homeland Security alleged in a statement to NBC News that Garcia had interfered with an arrest that was being carried out at the job site. "He physically got in between agents and the subject they were attempting to arrest and refused to comply with numerous verbal commands," said Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary. The brief video shared by Noticias Telemundo and Shelah Venegas on social media does not appear to show Leonardo Garcia Venegas getting between two agents as described. "Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties, including U.S. citizens, will of course face consequences which include arrest," McLaughlin said. A spokesperson for the agency told Newsweek that "there was no mistake" made by authorities during the encounter.
Newsweek
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Citizen Detained by ICE and Told His REAL ID Is 'Fake'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Leonardo García Venegas, a Florida-born U.S. citizen with a REAL ID, was forcibly arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at an Alabama construction site after agents claimed his identification was "fake," Venegas told Noticias Telemundo in Spanish on Friday. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Newsweek on Saturday morning that "there was no mistake" during the encounter, stating that Venegas "attempted to obstruct and prevent the lawful arrest of an illegal alien," thereby leading to his arrest. Newsweek reached out to ICE for comment via email on Sunday. Newsweek also reached out to Venegas' cousin, Shelah Venegas, via Facebook Messenger for comment on Saturday. Why It Matters Venegas' arrest comes amid an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, during which people with valid documentation—including green cards or visas—have been detained and face legal jeopardy. In April, President Donald Trump floated the idea of deporting U.S. citizens with violent criminal records to El Salvador. Trump campaigned on a hardline immigration stance, pledging to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. In the initial months of his presidency, his administration has deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants, many due to his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the president authority to deport non-citizens without appearing before a judge, among other wartime authorities. As of May 7, travelers need a REAL ID license or other specific state accepted identifications or passports to board federally regulated commercial aircraft and access certain federal facilities. What To Know On May 21, Venegas, 25, was wrestled down at a construction site in Foley, Alabama, by ICE agents. The video of the arrest was aired by Noticias Telemundo, and shows officers physically restraining him. His cousin, Shelah Venegas, posted the video of his arrest on Facebook, writing, "These federal agents without a single cause completely harassed a family member who is a US CITIZEN!!" Venegas provided the agents with his identification. The officials took it, told him it was fake, and then handcuffed him, he told Noticias Telemundo. "Apparently a REAL ID is not valid anymore. He has a REAL ID," Shelah Venegas told NBC News. "We all made sure we have the REAL ID and went through the protocols the administration is asking has his REAL ID and then they see him and I guess because his English isn't fluent and/or because he's brown it's fake, it's not real." Venegas, whose parents are from Mexico, told Noticias Telemundo that he was released hours later from the vehicle he was being held in after reciting his Social Security number to the officials, further proving his U.S. citizenship. When he returned to the construction site, ICE had detained other workers, including his 34-year-old brother who is reportedly undocumented, according to the Latin Times. The Department of Homeland Security seal is seen on the podium at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters on April 9 in Washington. Inset: Leonardo Garcia Venegas, provided by Telemundo, is seen. The Department of Homeland Security seal is seen on the podium at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters on April 9 in Washington. Inset: Leonardo Garcia Venegas, provided by Telemundo, is seen. AP Photo/Alex Brandon/Telemundo What People Are Saying A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek in an email Saturday: "During a targeted worksite operation, this individual attempted to obstruct and prevent the lawful arrest of an illegal alien. He physically got in between agents and the subject they were attempting to arrest and refused to comply with numerous verbal commands. Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties, including U.S. citizens, will of course face consequences which include arrest." Shelah Venegas, whose family owns a contracting company, told NBC News: "A lot of the people that work with us are not are refusing to go to work. They said they are not going to go until this stuff calms down." What Happens Next? Many have raised concerns about the Trump administration's detention and deportation practices, saying the process often lacks due process protections for individuals. Supporters say the crackdown is necessary to deter illegal immigration and remove criminals. Shelah Venegas told NBC News her cousin's brother has signed deportation papers as their family wanted to avoid him being detained "forever," a scenario they said happened with another family member.
