Teen Claims He Was Denied Rights During ICE Detention in Florida

An 18-year-old high school senior, Kenny Laynez, has recounted a troubling encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida. Laynez was detained on May 2023 while being driven to work by his mother, alongside two of his teenage colleagues. He alleges that during the arrest, he was told, despite being a U.S. citizen, that he had no rights.

Footage from Laynez’s cellphone shows the chaotic scene as officers confronted him and his friends. One officer can be heard saying, “You got no rights here. You’re an amigo, brother.” Laynez, who has lived in the United States his entire life, expressed his pain over the incident. Speaking to CBS News, he stated, “It hurts me, hearing them saying that I have no rights here because I look like, um, you know, Hispanic, I’m Hispanic.”

According to Laynez, the vehicle was pulled over due to too many passengers in the front seat, and two of the passengers were undocumented. The arrest escalated, with officers reportedly using a Taser on the teens. Laynez claimed he has been unable to contact his co-workers since the incident.

As the situation unfolded, Laynez’s phone continued recording, capturing a conversation between officers discussing the use of force. “They’re starting to resist more. We’re gonna end up shooting some of them,” one officer remarked, to which another responded, “Just remember, you can smell that too with a $30,000 bonus.”

In response to the incident, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement claiming that Laynez and his colleagues “resisted arrest” and noted an increase in assaults against immigration agents. Notably, the statement did not acknowledge Laynez’s status as a U.S. citizen.

Wider Implications of Immigration Enforcement

The events surrounding Laynez’s detention come as Florida prepares to deploy an additional 1,800 law enforcement officers to conduct immigration raids, a move ordered during the Trump administration. Mariana Blanco, director of the Guatemalan Maya Center, an advocacy organization, expressed concerns about the current climate of immigration enforcement. She stated, “Laws are just… they’re no longer being respected. They’re no longer being upheld.” Blanco warned that hastily deputizing local law enforcement will likely lead to severe consequences for immigrant communities.

Laynez’s experience is not isolated. In June, a similar incident occurred in Massachusetts involving another teenager, Marcelo Gomes Da Silva. Gomes Da Silva, an 18-year-old who had been living in the U.S. since the age of six, was detained by immigration authorities while driving to volleyball practice. The incident unfolded just before he was scheduled to perform with his school’s band at graduation.

During the traffic stop, authorities claimed they were searching for Gomes Da Silva’s father, who they alleged was in the country illegally. After determining that Gomes Da Silva was also undocumented, he was taken into custody. This arrest coincided with a month-long crackdown on illegal immigration in Massachusetts, dubbed Operation Patriot, which resulted in nearly 1,500 arrests labeled as “criminal aliens.” Gomes Da Silva was released on a $2,000 bond after several days in detention.

The detentions of Laynez and Gomes Da Silva raise critical questions about the treatment of young individuals within the immigration system and the rights they possess as citizens or residents. As these incidents come to light, advocacy groups continue to call for reforms to protect immigrant rights and ensure fair treatment under the law.