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Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a US citizen born in Georgia, was arrested in Florida and detained on a 48-hour hold requested by ICE, despite presenting a valid birth certificate. He was charged under Florida’s SB 4C law, which a federal court temporarily blocked, with being an “unauthorized alien.” Although the judge dismissed the charge, ICE’s detainer initially prevented his release. Following public outcry and advocacy efforts, Lopez-Gomez was ultimately released on Thursday evening.
Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen born in Georgia, was arrested in Florida under a controversial state law for allegedly entering the state illegally. Despite a judge verifying his birth certificate and Social Security card, and finding no probable cause for the charge, he remains detained by ICE. This detention is occurring despite a prior federal court injunction temporarily blocking the law’s enforcement. His family and advocates are demanding his immediate release, citing potential racial profiling.
U.S. citizen Julio Noriega, 54, was unlawfully arrested and detained by ICE for ten hours after being apprehended in Berwyn, Illinois. Despite possessing identification proving his citizenship, which ICE confiscated, he was neither questioned nor presented with a warrant. This incident is one of 22 similar cases filed by Immigrant Justice, alleging ICE’s disregard for the Nava Settlement and continued violation of civil rights. The arrests appear to target individuals based on their appearance, rather than legal grounds.
U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez is demanding answers after Border Patrol agents boarded a bus of Las Cruces High School students traveling to a swim meet, questioning students and causing distress. While Customs and Border Protection (CBP) claims the stop was a routine inspection at a checkpoint, Vasquez and parents criticize the agents’ actions, citing the students’ visible distress and the inappropriateness of targeting minors. The incident has sparked concerns about broader ICE enforcement practices and the potential for similar events. Vasquez has called for a full investigation and policy changes to prevent future occurrences.
The Laken Riley Act, recently signed into law, expands mandatory detention for unauthorized immigrants to include theft-related offenses and empowers state attorneys general to sue the federal government over immigration enforcement. Despite bipartisan support, the act has drawn sharp criticism for potentially increasing racial profiling and undermining due process, with concerns raised about the targeting of minority groups. Opponents, including several Democrats, argued the bill risks unjust detention and deportation without trial, even for minor offenses. The bill’s passage represents a perceived failure of congressional Democrats to effectively challenge conservative political maneuvering on immigration.
Since Wednesday, at least fifteen Indigenous people in Arizona and New Mexico have reported being stopped, questioned, and asked for citizenship proof by federal law enforcement during immigration raids, sparking widespread fear in tribal communities. These incidents, still under investigation, are occurring amidst a national increase in undocumented immigrant arrests. While the involvement of ICE remains unconfirmed, Navajo Nation officials have contacted various agencies to address these concerns, emphasizing the distress and trauma experienced by those targeted. The Navajo Nation is advising members to carry proper identification and has created resources to aid those encountering such situations.
Increased ICE activity has prompted serious concerns among urban Indigenous communities, particularly the Navajo Nation, regarding the detention of tribal members despite possession of tribal identification. Reports of detentions and questioning have led to calls for emergency protocols and legislative action to address the lack of recognition of tribal identification by ICE agents. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, while acknowledging the concerns, has stated that his office is still verifying reported cases before issuing an executive order, a position that has drawn criticism from tribal council members. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights and recognition, particularly concerning the misinterpretation of historical legal precedent regarding Indigenous citizenship. This issue also underscores the need for improved tribal identification systems and increased legal support for affected individuals.
Following concerns from its internal watchdog about widespread civil rights violations and potential racial profiling, the Justice Department has suspended the DEA’s airport passenger cash searches. The Office of the Inspector General found these searches, often conducted without warrants and based on factors like last-minute ticket purchases, created significant legal risks and wasted resources. The investigation highlighted problematic practices, including paying airline employees a percentage of seized cash, and the inability to determine racial bias due to incomplete data collection. This suspension will allow for an internal evaluation of the program’s legality and effectiveness.
As I read about Michigan State Rep. Matt Maddock mistaking the Gonzaga basketball team for a busload of “illegals”, I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief at the sheer ignorance and racism displayed by some individuals in positions of power. It’s alarming to think that someone entrusted to make decisions on behalf of the public could jump to such baseless and offensive assumptions without even bothering to fact-check.
The fact that Maddock doubled down on his mistake by dismissing those who corrected him as “kommies” speaks volumes about the current state of political discourse and the lack of accountability among certain lawmakers.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker