A new U.S. Senate report released Tuesday claims that U.S. citizens, including several Americans in Southern California, were unlawfully detained by federal immigration agents during recent enforcement operations between June and November.
The Report and Testimonies
The “Unchecked Authority” report outlines nearly two dozen cases and notes that five U.S. citizens testified before Congress on Tuesday, challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s assertion that no such detentions have occurred.
Individual Accounts
Andrea Velez, a U.S. citizen taken into custody in early June during an operation in downtown Los Angeles, told the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations that agents grabbed her pm on her way to work.
“I kept saying I was a U.S. citizen,” Velez said. “They got my Real ID. They didn’t care. They never even bothered looking at it. They just kept saying I was an alleged U.S. citizen.” Velez was charged with assaulting an agent, but those charges were later dropped by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Javier Ramirez, who was detained in Montebello, shared his story with the subcommittee, saying he hoped that no more U.S. citizens are arrested during ICE operations.
“What happened to me shouldn’t happen to anyone else as a citizen. I don’t want it to happen to my family or my kids as well,” Ramirez said.
Californian and Iraq combat veteran George Retes was detained during a raid at his job site.
“I served my country. I wore the uniform,” Retes said. “If it can happen to me, it can happen to any one of us.”
Department of Homeland Security Response
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), who heads the subcommittee, said the accounts contradict statements from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who has repeatedly insisted no U.S. citizens were swept up in immigration actions. The DHS issued a statement:
“ICE does not arrest U.S. citizens. What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is if they are illegally in the U.S.—NOT their skin color, race, or ethnicity,” the DHS said. “DHS law enforcement uses “reasonable suspicion” to make arrests … The Supreme Court recently vindicated us on this question. DHS enforces federal immigration law without fear, favor, or prejudice.” The department also said the arrests were based solely on immigration status under the Fourth Amendment’s “reasonable suspicion” standard. The DHS also insists the Supreme Court recently affirmed its enforcement authority.
Key Takeaways
- The report documents nearly two dozen detentions between June and November.
- Five U.S. citizens testified, challenging DHS’s denial of such detentions.
- DHS maintains that arrests were based on immigration status and “reasonable suspicion.”
The testimonies raise questions about the enforcement practices of federal immigration agents and the accuracy of the Department of Homeland Security’s public statements.
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