Overview

• Jose Hermosillo, a U.S. citizen with intellectual disabilities, was detained by Border Patrol in Tucson, Arizona, on April 8 and held for 10 days on an improper entry charge.
• Hermosillo disputes DHS claims that he admitted to illegal entry and Mexican citizenship, stating he was coerced into signing documents he could not read or understand.
• Court records show Hermosillo declared his citizenship two days after his arrest, but he remained detained until his family provided his birth certificate on April 17.
• The Arizona Attorney General’s Office, led by Kris Mayes, has launched an investigation into the detention, calling it unacceptable to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens.
• The case highlights systemic issues in immigration enforcement, including procedural errors, conflicting official accounts, and the vulnerabilities of disabled detainees in custody.