According to a report released on Monday, at least 15 American citizens were reportedly “arrested or detained and interrogated” during efforts by law enforcement under the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refuted these claims in a statement shared with Blaze News.
The report from the Times suggested that DHS officials “patrol courts and workplaces in search of evidence of citizenship from residents.”
The DHS countered by stating that the operation is “highly targeted” and emphasized that it does not lead to the arrest of U.S. citizens.
“We conduct our operations carefully,” the department clarified. “Our targets are pre-identified. When we encounter individuals, our trained law enforcement asks specific questions to ascertain their status. We do not detain or arrest U.S. citizens.”
Additionally, the Times highlighted that the detained citizens spent the night in immigration facilities without access to legal representation or communication devices. The DHS disputed this, asserting that their detention facilities maintain higher standards than many U.S. prisons that hold citizens.
“Claims about poor conditions in ICE detention are unfounded,” the DHS stated. “All detainees are provided adequate nutrition, medical care, and opportunities to contact family as well as legal counsel.”
Several specific cases were mentioned by the Times, including those of Kenny Raines Ambrosio, Jason Brian Gavidia, Javier Ramirez, George Regis, and Leonardo Garcia Venegas. Each individual, according to the outlet, was an American citizen wrongly targeted as part of the immigration enforcement under Trump.
For instance, 18-year-old Laynez-Ambrosio was reportedly stopped by Florida’s Highway Patrol while riding in his employer’s truck with colleagues. After refusing to exit the vehicle, he was forcibly removed and allegedly held at a Border Patrol facility for nearly six hours, despite asserting his citizenship repeatedly during that time.
In a statement, the DHS claimed that Laynez-Ambrosio was with “several adult males from Guatemala unlawfully present” and resisted arrest when stopped. However, Border Patrol agents were reportedly responding to assistance requests from the Highway Patrol when they arrested someone undocumented.
Gavidia, 29, and Ramirez, 32, were also detained while working in East Los Angeles in June, as reported by the Times, which suggested their detainment was unjust. The DHS responded, stating that Gavidia had previously faced charges for assaulting an officer and obstructing their actions. Ramirez was detained briefly for investigation but subsequently released after confirming his citizenship and absence of warrants.
In another incident, a 25-year-old military veteran was said to be wrongfully detained, where officers allegedly damaged his vehicle and mistook him for a disruptive protester while he was en route to work at a marijuana farm undergoing federal law enforcement actions. The DHS claimed that during the warrant sweep, he became aggressive and was non-compliant.
Meanwhile, Venegas was mistakenly detained while at a construction site. He began filming after witnessing officers push his brother, an undocumented individual, to the ground. Reports suggest that he was handcuffed for hours during this encounter.
“During a targeted operation at a workplace, Garcia Venegas attempted to intervene and obstruct the legal arrests of undocumented individuals,” the DHS stated. “He physically tried to get between agents and the person they were about to arrest, ignoring repeated verbal commands. Those who hinder legal law enforcement actions, including U.S. citizens, might face consequences like arrest.”
DHS Deputy Chief Tricia McLaughlin reiterated that U.S. citizens would never be subject to ICE arrests solely due to their citizenship. “The citizens detained were for obstructing law enforcement actions,” she asserted.
