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Tile installer Luis arrested by ICE in parking lot despite valid work permit

Jul 23, 2026 · Deer Park, NY, Ecuador

Tile installer Luis arrested by ICE in parking lot despite valid work permit

Luis, a 25-year-old tile installer from Ecuador, was arrested by ICE agents in the parking lot of Tanger Outlets in Deer Park while sitting in his car. ICE agents ran his out-of-state license plates without his knowledge, identified him as an Ecuadorian citizen, obtained a warrant, and arrested him within 20 minutes without giving him an opportunity to explain that he had a valid work permit and federal status protecting him from deportation. A judge later freed him from custody. Luis's arrest occurred as part of a broader enforcement pattern: Newsday's investigation found ICE has arrested over 2,000 people on Long Island since Trump's second term began, primarily through parking lot surveillance and traffic stops rather than coordinated raids. At least 84 of 400 reviewed cases involved immigrants arrested while using vehicles, despite New York state law barring ICE from accessing DMV records.

Timeline

Jul 23, 2026Judge freed Luis from custody
Jul 15, 2025Luis arrested by ICE agents in Deer Park parking lot after they ran his out-of-state license plates

Sources

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