Overview

• Jose Hermosillo, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by Border Patrol agents near Nogales, Arizona, on April 8, accused of illegal entry without identification.
• Hermosillo and his family disputed claims that he admitted to being a Mexican citizen, maintaining he was lost while visiting family in Tucson.
• Proof of citizenship, including his birth certificate and Social Security card, was presented days later, leading to the dismissal of his case on April 17 by Magistrate Judge Maria S. Aguilera.
• The Department of Homeland Security asserts Hermosillo voluntarily identified as a Mexican citizen, a claim met with skepticism and criticism from legal experts and the public.
• The incident highlights systemic issues in immigration enforcement, with reports showing hundreds of U.S. citizens wrongfully detained in recent years.