Overview

• Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, born in Georgia, was detained by Florida authorities under a blocked state immigration law after a traffic stop.
• Despite his mother presenting his birth certificate and Social Security card in court, a judge ruled she lacked jurisdiction to release him due to an ICE detainer request.
• Lopez-Gomez was held in Leon County Jail for 24–48 hours before being released, though he still faces an unresolved charge and a May 6 court date.
• The incident has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups, citing racial profiling, constitutional violations, and the misuse of state and federal authority.
• The case highlights broader tensions between Florida's immigration policies and federal court rulings, with ongoing legal challenges to the state's SB 4-C law.