University of Florida student deported to Colombia after traffic stop
Mar 28, 2025 · Gainesville, FL, Colombia

Felipe Zapata Velázquez, 27, a third-year undergraduate at the University of Florida majoring in food and resource economics, was stopped by police in Gainesville on March 28 for traffic violations including an illegal license plate and driving with a suspended license. Despite holding a valid F-1 student visa, he was arrested and taken to Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade County, where he was given the choice to wait for immigration court proceedings or sign deportation papers. He chose to sign the deportation papers and was deported to Colombia. His mother, Claudia Velázquez, stated that Felipe is undergoing physical and emotional recovery in Colombia. A protest demanding restoration of his immigration status was scheduled at the university, and Rep. Maxwell Frost characterized the case as part of a Trump administration crackdown on foreign students.
Sources
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