Fact Check: "The 23-year-old was pulled out of the van, placed in handcuffs, and detained for about 25 minutes while the agent searched him."
What We Know
The claim refers to an incident involving Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while driving to work. According to reports, Lemus was pulled out of his work van, placed in handcuffs, and detained for approximately 25 minutes while the agents searched him for identification. This incident was recorded on Lemus' phone, and he expressed feeling that his rights were violated during the encounter (NBC New York, Yahoo News).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust, as multiple credible sources report the same sequence of events. Lemus himself detailed the incident, stating that he was stopped by ICE agents who demanded to see his identification. When he questioned the basis for the stop, the situation escalated, leading to his detainment. The agents reportedly did not provide a clear reason for the stop, which raises concerns about the legality of their actions, particularly regarding potential violations of constitutional rights (NBC New York, Yahoo News).
The incident has drawn attention from civil rights advocates, who argue that such stops without probable cause can constitute racial profiling and violate constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures (NBC New York). The details provided by Lemus and corroborated by news reports lend credibility to his account.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Elzon Lemus was pulled out of the van, placed in handcuffs, and detained for about 25 minutes while the agent searched him is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The consistency of the reports and the firsthand account from Lemus confirm the accuracy of the claim.
