An American citizen, arrested and detained in a Florida county jail at the behest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has been released following accusations of being in the U.S. illegally, sparking significant outcry. The incident involved Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, who was initially detained despite possessing a valid birth certificate confirming his U.S. citizenship.
The legal proceedings began when Lopez-Gomez’s advocate presented his birth certificate in court, which the judge authenticated. However, a state prosecutor contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to release him due to federal authorities’ request for his detention. Despite this, Lopez-Gomez was released from custody on Thursday evening.
His mother, Sebastiana Gomez-Perez, expressed deep distress as she witnessed her son participate remotely in a court hearing. She described feelings of helplessness and desperation, emphasizing her inability to intervene in the situation.
The arrest occurred amid a series of assertive immigration measures implemented by the Trump administration, targeting both documented individuals and U.S. citizens. This particular challenge to a birth certificate echoes previous controversies, such as the questioned legitimacy of former President Barack Obama’s birthplace.
Lopez-Gomez, who was born in Georgia, was apprehended by the Florida Highway Patrol during a traffic stop while en route to work on a construction site in Tallahassee. He was subsequently detained in Leon County Jail on a 48-hour hold requested by ICE and charged under Florida’s new stringent immigration law as an “unauthorized alien.”
The legislation, SB 4C, enacted by Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, criminalizes undocumented immigrants over 18 who knowingly enter Florida after eluding immigration officers. Though a federal court temporarily restrained the law’s enforcement in April, Lopez-Gomez’s case proceeded.
During the legal proceedings, Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans dismissed the misdemeanor charge against Lopez-Gomez after verifying the authenticity of his birth certificate. However, ICE’s request prevented her from authorizing his immediate release.
Lopez-Gomez’s eventual release was confirmed by a family spokesperson, and his emotional reunion with supporters was documented by the Florida Immigration Coalition. The rationale behind ICE’s issuance of a detainer against Lopez-Gomez remains unclear, despite its potential liability due to the lack of probable cause.
Such detainers have been controversially issued in the past, leading to the unwarranted detention of U.S. citizens, as outlined by the Immigration Legal Resource Center. The situation underscores ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the legal rights of citizens.