In April 2025, the Florida highway patrol arrested 20-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez and held him (illegally) for 48 hours, initially refusing to accept documentation from his mother who had evidence her son was indeed a USA citizen. After his case received widespread media attention and a Court hearing where the judge was shown his state identification card, birth certificate, and Social Security card, he was released with all charges being dropped because the judge found no basis for the charge.
After U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requested he remain in custody for 48 hours, they expressed no acknowledgement of their mistake, offered no apology for their actions, or any remorse for their illegal behaviour. A federal judge has now put a hold on the Florida law that allowed an arrest of an American citizen for being an American.
