ABC News📦,Newsweek📦,ProPublica📦,PBS📦,The Guardian📦,CourtListener📦,CourtListener,CourtListener,CourtListener,CourtListener,CourtListener,dothaneagle.com📦,usnews.com📦,nbcpalmsprings.com📦,linkedin.com📦,Salon📦,mynbc15.com📦,mynbc15.com📦,legaltechdigest.com📦,reason.com📦,Mother Jones,al.com📦,reason.com,Instagram📦,Instagram+25 ABC News📦,Newsweek📦,ProPublica📦,PBS📦,The Guardian📦,CourtListener📦,CourtListener,CourtListener,CourtListener,CourtListener,CourtListener,dothaneagle.com📦,usnews.com📦,nbcpalmsprings.com📦,linkedin.com📦,Salon📦,mynbc15.com📦,mynbc15.com📦,legaltechdigest.com📦,reason.com📦,Mother Jones,al.com📦,reason.com,Instagram📦,Instagram May 27, 2026·Foley, AL·Mexico
Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a 26-year-old U.S. citizen born in Florida to an American father, was detained by ICE agents three separate times between May 2025 and May 2026 despite repeatedly showing valid identification. In the first incident, agents raided a construction site in Foley, Alabama, where he worked, forcing him to the ground and holding him for over an hour while he filmed his brother's arrest, even after showing his Real ID. He was detained again weeks later at a home in Fairhope after an officer refused to accept his Alabama REAL ID as proof of citizenship, and was released only after reciting his Social Security number. In May 2026, agents followed him to his home in Silverhill, pulled him from his truck, and placed him in leg shackles, telling him he was stopped because his vehicle was registered to his undocumented brother. His attorney disputes government claims that he interfered with agents, and Garcia Venegas testified before Congress before filing a federal lawsuit alleging Fourth Amendment violations, assault, battery, false arrest, and warrantless detentions, saying the repeated incidents caused him stress, depression, and constant fear.