June 20, 2025 – Reports of U.S. citizens being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during immigration enforcement operations have raised alarms about potential overreach, racial profiling, and violations of constitutional rights.
As the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown, several documented cases highlight the risks faced by American citizens caught in these sweeps.
In Los Angeles, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen was detained by ICE on June 9, 2025, during a raid at a swap meet in Santa Fe Springs, as reported by The Guardian.
The individual was released after his citizenship was verified, but his attorney described the incident as racial profiling, noting that the detention occurred without a warrant or probable cause.
In Montebello, California, a U.S. citizen was detained on June 10, 2025, during an ICE operation targeting a towing yard, according to posts on X.
The individual, who carried a U.S. passport, was released after verification, but the incident sparked local outrage over perceived targeting of Latino communities.
On Long Island, New York, Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen born and raised in Brentwood, was detained by ICE agents on June 3, 2025, while driving to work.
Video footage captured agents stopping Lemus’s vehicle in Westbury, claiming he resembled a target.
Lemus refused to provide ID without further explanation, asserting his rights.
He was detained for about an hour, including 20 minutes in handcuffs, before being released.
His attorney, Frederick K. Brewington, called the stop a violation of civil liberties and demanded a U.S. Justice Department investigation, citing racial profiling.
The Case of Adrian Martinez in Pico Rivera
A much more recent case is that of Adrian Martinez, who disappeared after being detained by ICE officials.
On June 17, 2025, Adrian Andrew Martinez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen born in Los Angeles, was detained by ICE agents in a Walmart parking lot in Pico Rivera, California.
According to his mother, Myra Martinez, Adrian was tackled and forcibly restrained by several agents near the 8600 block of Washington Boulevard during a chaotic immigration enforcement operation.
Viral videos shared on social media captured masked agents in tactical gear wrestling Martinez to the ground.
Myra Martinez told CALÓ News, “I just want to know where my son is,” after more than 24 hours of uncertainty.
She later confirmed that Adrian was being held at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles.
Federal officials claimed Martinez punched a Border Patrol agent in the face while interfering with the arrest of an undocumented immigrant, according to the Orange County Register.
However, security footage from the Walmart, reported by FOX 11 Los Angeles, showed no evidence of Martinez throwing punches.
As of June 19, Martinez remained in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, with his family unable to speak with him directly.
The incident triggered protests in Pico Rivera, with hundreds marching from City Hall to the nearby Walgreens, chanting “ICE out of Pico!”.
State Senator Bob Archuleta (D-30) was the only elected official to reach out to the Martinez family, offering assistance in locating Adrian.
Racial Profiling Stretching Nationwide
In Alabama, Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE on May 23, 2025, while filming arrests at a construction site.
Agents dismissed his REAL ID as fake and handcuffed him, causing physical discomfort.
Garcia Venegas was released after a few hours once his citizenship was confirmed via his Social Security Number.
He told The Guardian, “It’s about race now.
It’s not about whether you are here legally or not.”
In Florida, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen born in Georgia, was detained on April 16, 2025, during a traffic stop.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper charged him with illegal entry under a state law, despite his U.S. citizenship.
His mother presented his birth certificate, state ID, and Social Security card in court, leading to the dismissal of charges.
However, an ICE detainer held him for over 30 hours before his release, as reported by PBS News and CNN.
His attorney suggested a language barrier and possible profiling contributed to the error.
Concerns Grow in America, “It Seems Personal Now”
ICE’s authority to detain individuals, including U.S. citizens, derives from the Immigration and Nationality Act, which permits agents to question individuals believed to be non-citizens without a warrant.
However, the Fourth Amendment requires probable cause for arrests of U.S. citizens, and ICE policy mandates immediate review when someone claims citizenship.
A 2021 Government Accountability Office report found that ICE detained 674 U.S. citizens from 2015 to 2020 and deported 70.
Jacqueline Stevens, a professor at Northwestern University’s Deportation Research Clinic, described ICE as an “information black hole” with minimal accountability.
The ACLU and National Immigration Project have condemned ICE’s tactics, with Gracie Willis stating, “What we saw from ICE over the last several days is horrifying and baffling,” in reference to detentions of citizens and non-citizens alike.
Many incidents involve Hispanic or Latino individuals, raising concerns about racial profiling.
In Montebello, a city with a 79% Latino population, community leaders reported heightened fear following ICE raids.
In Los Angeles, a Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights spokesperson noted over 120 calls from families affected by raids, many involving non-criminal detainees.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, in a February 2025 letter to ICE, warned that detaining citizens based on appearance risks “racial and ethnic profiling.”
ICE has not responded to requests for comment in several cases, and Congress has received no answers to inquiries about these incidents.
As enforcement escalates, advocates warn that more U.S. citizens may be wrongfully detained, urging reforms to protect constitutional rights.
Check in daily for related news and updates.
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