FLORIDA — A 20-year-old U.S. citizen, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, was released from immigration custody in Florida after being wrongfully detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite holding a valid U.S. birth certificate.
Lopez-Gomez, who was born in Georgia, was apprehended earlier this month by ICE agents during a routine traffic stop and held under suspicion of being an undocumented immigrant. However, a county judge ruled that there was no legal basis to keep him in custody, as his documents clearly proved his U.S. citizenship.
The court’s decision emphasized that there was no credible evidence suggesting Lopez-Gomez was an “illegal alien.” Civil rights advocates have since criticized ICE for its handling of the case, pointing to it as another instance of racial profiling and wrongful detentions targeting Latino citizens.
“Detaining an American-born citizen without cause is a serious violation of civil rights,” said one immigration attorney, calling for greater oversight and reform within ICE procedures.
Lopez-Gomez’s family expressed relief over his release but voiced frustration over the emotional and legal ordeal. The incident has sparked calls for accountability and stricter safeguards to prevent similar cases in the future.
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