An 18-year-old U.S. citizen is speaking out after he was arrested by immigration agents in Florida back in May — an incident captured on video that has since drawn national scrutiny.
The incident
Kenny Laynez, a high school senior and U.S. citizen, was on his way to work as a landscaper with his mother and two co-workers when their vehicle was pulled over by Florida Highway Patrol. According to authorities, the stop was due to too many passengers in the front seat. Soon after, federal Border Patrol agents arrived on the scene. Working in coordination with state troopers, they questioned the passengers and escalated the stop into an immigration enforcement action.
The 18-year-old’s response
Laynez began recording the incident on his phone. In the video, an officer can be heard telling him, “You got no rights here. You’re an amigo, brother.” Laynez later told CBS News of the comment, “It hurts me, hearing them saying that I have no rights here because I look like, um, you know, Hispanic. I’m Hispanic.” He added of the arrest, “We’re not resisting. We’re not committing any crime to, you know, run away.”
The arrest
Two of the passengers in the vehicle with Laynez were undocumented immigrants. The situation quickly escalated as officers deployed a taser, and Laynez was detained along with his co-workers. His phone continued recording after his detention, capturing an exchange between officers. One said, “They’re starting to resist more. We’re gonna end up shooting some of them.” Another replied, “Just remember, you can smell that too with a $30,000 bonus.” Laynez says he has not been able to contact his two former coworkers since they were taken into custody.
The aftermath
U.S. Customs and Border Protection later issued a statement to CBS News claiming that the individuals involved had “resisted arrest” and that immigration agents are facing a rise in assaults. However, the agency made no mention of Laynez’s citizenship or why a U.S. citizen was detained. Mariana Blanco, director of the Guatemala Maya Center, says Florida’s policies are leading to serious overreach. “Laws are just, you know, they’re no longer being respected. They’re no longer being upheld. … Deputizing these agents so quickly, it is going to bring severe consequences,” she said.
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Author: Isabella Torregiani
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