Overview

• Leo Garcia Venegas and the Institute for Justice filed a federal class-action complaint in the Southern District of Alabama seeking an injunction and damages.
• Venegas says he was detained on May 21 and June 12 at private construction sites after agents entered without warrants and dismissed his Alabama REAL/STAR ID.
• The suit alleges officers targeted Latino workers while bypassing white and Black coworkers, with video showing an agent forcing Venegas to the ground.
• DHS says ICE does not arrest U.S. citizens and, in a separate statement reported by ABC News, asserts Venegas obstructed an arrest, though no charges were filed.
• The case lands as Alabama deportation referrals have roughly doubled this year and after the Supreme Court recently lifted limits on appearance-based stops.