Particle.news
Download on the App Store
22 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Florida Releases U.S. Citizen Wrongfully Detained Under Blocked Immigration Law

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old born in Georgia, was held for nearly 24 hours despite proof of citizenship, raising concerns over misuse of ICE detainers and state enforcement of immigration laws.

(File photo) An U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) personnel provides security in the French Quarter provides security in the French Quarter prior to Super Bowl LIX on February 08, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Juan Lopez Gomez hugs his mother after his release.
Image
Image

Overview

  • Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S.-born citizen, was arrested in Florida on April 16 under a state immigration law that was blocked by a federal court earlier this month.
  • Despite his mother presenting a birth certificate and Social Security card proving his citizenship, a Leon County judge ruled she lacked jurisdiction to release him due to an ICE detainer request.
  • Lopez-Gomez was held for nearly 24 hours in the Leon County Jail before being released on April 18 following public protests and widespread media coverage.
  • The incident highlights concerns over the enforcement of Florida's SB4-C law, which has been temporarily blocked, and the broader use of ICE detainers to hold individuals without probable cause.
  • Advocates and legal experts have criticized the case as a violation of constitutional rights, underscoring tensions between state and federal immigration enforcement.