U.S. citizen teen handcuffed, abandoned in woods by immigration agents in Cary raid
Nov 24, 2025 · Cary, NC
Fernando Vazquez, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen and landscaper born in Raleigh, North Carolina, was detained by immigration enforcement agents at a construction site in Cary during large-scale enforcement operations in the Triangle area. Despite showing his North Carolina Real ID and telling agents he was an American citizen, Vazquez was handcuffed and placed in an SUV. After agents confirmed his citizenship, Vazquez alleges they threw away his wallet and abandoned him injured in the woods, dropping him off a half mile away from the site. He subsequently filed a legal challenge with ACLU representation, alleging racial profiling and seeking damages for the wrongful arrest and mistreatment.
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