Fact Check: Elzon Lemus Detained by ICE Despite Being a U.S. Citizen
What We Know
On June 3, 2025, Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old electrician from Brentwood, New York, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while driving to work. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. in Westbury, New York, when ICE agents pulled over Lemus' vehicle. Video footage recorded by Lemus shows him questioning the agents about the reason for the stop, to which an agent replied, "You look like someone we're looking for" (CBS News, NBC New York). Lemus, who was born and raised in the U.S., refused to provide identification without a clear explanation from the agents.
During the encounter, Lemus was handcuffed and detained for approximately 20 to 25 minutes while the agents searched him and his vehicle (NBC New York, Yahoo News). After the agents confirmed his citizenship by finding his ID, they released him without any explanation or apology (NBC New York, Fox 5 NY).
Lemus' attorney, Frederick K. Brewington, stated that the stop was a violation of Lemus' civil rights and characterized it as racial profiling, arguing that the agents lacked reasonable suspicion to detain him (CBS News, Yahoo News).
Analysis
The evidence surrounding the incident is corroborated by multiple news sources, all reporting similar details about the encounter. The video footage recorded by Lemus serves as a primary source of evidence, showing the interaction between him and the ICE agents. The claim that Lemus was detained despite being a U.S. citizen is supported by his own account and the statements from his attorney, who emphasizes the lack of probable cause for the stop (NBC New York, Fox 5 NY).
The sources used in this fact-check are credible news outlets, including CBS News and NBC New York, which have a history of reliable reporting. However, it is important to note that the narrative is primarily presented from Lemus' perspective and that of his legal representatives, which may introduce a degree of bias. Nonetheless, the consistency across multiple reports lends credibility to the claim that Lemus was indeed detained without just cause.
Conclusion
The claim that Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old electrician from Brentwood, was handcuffed and detained by ICE agents for about 25 minutes despite being a U.S. citizen is True. The evidence, including video footage and corroborating statements from Lemus and his attorney, supports this conclusion. The incident raises significant concerns about civil rights and the practices of ICE in detaining individuals without reasonable suspicion.
Sources
- Video allegedly shows ICE agents detaining Hispanic U.S. ...
- Long Island man detained by ICE despite US citizenship
- U.S. citizen claims civil rights were violated during ICE ...
- US citizen blasts ICE after being detained as he drove to ...
- ICE detains US citizen in NY: 'It was heartbreaking'
- US citizen stopped, searched by ICE on Long Island: Lawyer
- Elzon Lemus Illegally Detained By ICE In Westbury: Attorney
- US citizen stopped, searched by ICE on Long Island: Lawyer
