The 23-year-old was pulled out of the van, placed in handcuffs, and detained for about 25 minutes while the agent searched him. When the agents finally found his ID confirming his citizenship, the agents let him go — without offering any explanation or apology.

A 23-year-old electrician from Brentwood is speaking out after a disturbing encounter with federal immigration agents left him handcuffed and shaken, despite being a U.S. citizen.

Elzon Lemus says he was on the job, driving in a work van with his co-worker in Westbury when they were pulled over by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident was recorded on Lemus’ phone.

“What’s up, guys? Can I see your ID, please?” an agent asks in the video.

When Lemus questions why they’re being stopped, the agent replies vaguely, “Cause you look like someone I’m looking for. Can I see your ID?”

Lemus continues, “Who are you looking for exactly? Because it’s definitely not me.”

The agent then warns him, “This is going to go one of two ways here. I need to see your ID — if you’re not the guy I’m looking for, you’re not the guy I’m looking for. But we need your ID.”

When Lemus continues to question why he’s being stopped the agent escalates and says “If we don’t get your ID we are going to need to figure out another way to ID you and that may not work out well for you.”

  • teamevil@lemmy.world
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    19 hours ago

    Isn’t illegally detaining folks a violation of their civil rights/freedoms? Pretty sure that one that isn’t protected by qualified immunity… fucking scum

    • bthest@lemmy.world
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      24 hours ago

      Since the republicans passed laws allowing teachers to be armed in schools it would be such sweet karmatic justice if one them melts an ICE agent.

  • JaggedRobotPubes@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    Take down individual names any time you have them. They are deciding to do those things individually, and they will answer individually to the citizens, when some bro stairs save america by being tripped upon by an ailing man, and it all starts crumbling and imploding.

  • PlantJam@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    “You look like someone I’m looking for” seems to be a recurring quote from these guys.

      • Krudler@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        And?

        This is PAYDAY. Open and shut slam dunk.

        I wish my rights were this clearly violated.

        • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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          1 day ago

          It’s payday… In ten years.

          Assuming the laws don’t change.

          And assuming ICE doesn’t kill him to stop the lawsuit.

          • Krudler@lemmy.world
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            22 hours ago

            Your cynicism is makes impossible to have a rational discussion.

            Everything’s going to be back bite with some little sarcastic pissy remark and I just am exhausted by this kind of dialogue.

            • TJDetweiler@lemmy.ca
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              21 hours ago

              It’s payday if a judge in 10 years gives a shit about constitutional violations, or if judges are still non-partisan by then. The dude also looks Latino, so his odds are even worse. I am an outsider looking in, but I wouldn’t trust that shit hole country to uphold any sense of the law after what I’ve seen over the last few weeks. Fuckin’ embarrassing mess down there.

            • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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              19 hours ago

              There’s nothing rational about your position! You literally said “I wish my rights were this clearly violated” and you think I’m supposed to take your position seriously? Your wide-eyed credulous optimism will run face-first into reality soon enough, and when you do, I won’t say “I told you so” because I know you’ll already understand that the time for lawsuits is coming to a close.

              But don’t call me a cynic. I have revolutionary optimism. I know we can win when we take this seriously.

    • Wilco@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      Agreed, this is a clear cut Constitutional violation. Should be worth millions.

    • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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      1 day ago

      Yes, the democracy is crumbling but at least some people will get paid.

      Profiting from dictatorship must be the most American thing ever.

      • bthest@lemmy.world
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        24 hours ago

        Meh, I you could survive. ICE is like the most coward desk jockey law enforcement who only shoots a gun every 5 years to stay qualified. Before Homeland Security and ICE was formed, immigration officials were unarmed like IRS agents and social workers.

        He’d probably have to go to trial but people have been acquitted of shooting cops and I think he’d have a good chance.

  • oyo@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    ICE has been directly and illegally ordered to violate the fourth amendment and are doing it every day.

  • stoy@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    “Papers, please!”

    No wait, they are not that polite…

    “Papers!”

    Wait, they didn’t even lead with asking about his papers?

    Damn…

  • Asafum@feddit.nl
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    2 days ago

    Quotas for DEI initiatives bad: no merit for chosen employees

    Quotas for ICE good: no merit for those arrested in order to meet quota…

    I know I know, you don’t logic a Magoo. There is none to be had…

    • IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works
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      The scary part is that there absolutely is logic to it. They’re still just slightly short of being willing to say that part out loud.