U.S. Citizen Detained for Third Time as Officials Deny Mistaken Arrests
Federal lawsuit updates clash with DHS assertions that no citizens are wrongly detained, as officials maintain enforcement operations are targeted and lawful.
Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a U.S. citizen, was detained and shackled by immigration agents on May 2, marking his third such incident. Despite presenting a valid Alabama REAL ID, agents failed to immediately verify his citizenship. Venegas has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging unconstitutional raids. While Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials deny that U.S. citizens are mistakenly arrested, Venegas’ case highlights ongoing concerns regarding mistaken detentions and the psychological toll on affected individuals. DHS has stated that Venegas was not “detained” but released after identity establishment following a routine vehicle stop of a car registered to an undocumented individual.
Venegas’ most recent detention occurred on May 2, shortly after his previous two incidents gained viral attention and congressional scrutiny. During the latest stop, agents blamed Venegas for the arrest because he was driving a car registered to his brother, despite his immediate presentation of his own REAL ID. Venegas reported that officers told him he risked being stopped again until he registered the license plates in his own name. His lawyers updated his federal lawsuit with details of this third detention; government lawyers have argued the case still lacks merit.
Venegas filed a separate claim for damages with the government last autumn, which was denied by ICE in mid-April without explanation. A DHS spokesperson stated that despite the use of shackles, Venegas was “NOT detained” but rather released after identity establishment following a routine vehicle stop of a car registered to an illegal alien. DHS also clarified that a separate incident involving a teen in the Bronx was a “temporary detention,” not an arrest.
Matthew Elliston, a top ICE official, stated at a border security conference that zero U.S. citizens had been arrested for false identification since the start of the administration. Rodney Scott, head of Customs and Border Protection, stated he would not take action to avoid arresting U.S. citizens, asserting that agents arrest criminals “period.”
The repeated detentions have taken a significant psychological toll on Venegas, who described feeling demoralised and stressed. He noted that the mental burden of wondering when he might be stopped again has led to depression. Despite being born in Florida and holding valid identification, Venegas has expressed concerns about his safety and has considered relocating to Mexico. His legal team continues to seek an end to what they describe as unconstitutional raids in his area.
The government maintains that its enforcement operations are highly targeted and based on reasonable suspicion. However, Venegas’ case underscores the disconnect between official denials of mistaken arrests and the experiences of citizens who have been detained multiple times. The Department of Homeland Security continues to assert that its agents do not arrest U.S. citizens by mistake, even as legal challenges to these practices persist in federal court.
