Fact Check: "ICE agents found Lemus's ID confirming his citizenship."
What We Know
On June 3, 2025, Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old electrician and U.S. citizen, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while driving to work in Westbury, Long Island. During the encounter, Lemus was handcuffed and held for approximately 25 minutes while the agents searched for his identification. Ultimately, they found his ID, which confirmed his citizenship, and subsequently released him without any explanation or apology (NBC New York, CBS News).
Lemus recorded parts of the incident, during which he questioned the agents about the reason for the stop. The agents claimed he "looked like someone they were looking for," but did not provide further details (NBC New York). Civil rights advocates have criticized the stop as potentially violating constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, with Lemus's attorney suggesting it was a case of racial profiling (CBS News).
Analysis
The claim that ICE agents found Lemus's ID confirming his citizenship is supported by multiple sources. Both NBC New York and CBS News report that after being detained for about 25 minutes, the agents located Lemus's identification, which confirmed his status as a U.S. citizen (NBC New York, CBS News).
The reliability of these sources is generally high; NBC and CBS are well-established news organizations with a history of journalistic integrity. However, the incident has sparked significant public outcry and debate regarding ICE's practices, particularly concerning racial profiling and civil rights violations. Legal experts and civil rights advocates have voiced concerns about the legality of the stop, emphasizing that ICE agents must have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to detain individuals (CBS News).
While the primary claim is substantiated, the broader implications of the incident highlight ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and civil liberties in the U.S. The lack of an explanation or apology from the agents after confirming Lemus's citizenship further underscores the contentious nature of such encounters.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that ICE agents found Lemus's ID confirming his citizenship is accurate. Multiple credible sources confirm that after a prolonged detention, Lemus's identification was located, proving his status as a U.S. citizen. This incident raises significant concerns about the practices of ICE and the potential violation of civil rights, particularly regarding racial profiling and the standards required for lawful detainment.
Sources
- U.S. citizen searched by ICE agents on Long Island while ...
- US citizen blasts ICE after being detained as he drove to work: ‘They’re the criminals’
- Long Island man detained by ICE despite US citizenship
- Video allegedly shows ICE agents detaining Hispanic U.S. citizen on Long Island
- US citizen blasts ICE after being detained as he drove to ...
- ICE detains US citizen in NY: 'It was heartbreaking'
- U.S. citizen claims civil rights were violated during ICE ...
- US citizen stopped, searched by ICE on Long Island: Lawyer
