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U.S. citizen's truck window smashed by ICE agents, detained and released bleeding, files $1.25M lawsuit

Feb 27, 2026 · Charlotte, NC, Honduras

U.S. citizen's truck window smashed by ICE agents, detained and released bleeding, files $1.25M lawsuit

Willy Wender Aceituno, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Honduran descent who has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina for over 25 years, was arrested by ICE and DHS agents in November 2025 without a warrant. During the encounter, agents smashed his truck window with a baton and forcibly removed him from the vehicle despite him showing them his REAL ID confirming his citizenship. When Aceituno began filming the agents on his phone, they threw him onto the broken glass, handcuffed him, and transported him approximately two miles away before releasing him bleeding on the side of the road. The incident triggered childhood trauma from witnessing his father's arrest and disappearance by the Honduran military. In February 2026, Aceituno filed a $1.25 million lawsuit against federal immigration authorities alleging violations of constitutional amendments and claims of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and negligent supervision. Aceituno is the lead plaintiff in a federal class-action lawsuit with the ACLU alleging that ICE and CBP agents made warrantless arrests without probable cause across North Carolina.

Timeline

Feb 2026Aceituno filed $1.25 million lawsuit against ICE and DHS agents alleging warrantless arrest, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and negligent supervision
Feb 2026Aceituno became lead plaintiff in federal class-action lawsuit with ACLU challenging ICE and CBP warrantless arrest policies without probable cause across North Carolina
Nov 2025Willy Wender Aceituno stopped twice within minutes by ICE agents in Charlotte; during second encounter, agents smashed truck window, threw him to ground causing cuts from broken glass, detained him, then released him bleeding over 2 miles from his vehicle

Sources

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