Fact Check: The ICE agents allegedly left Lemus in cuffs for 20-25 minutes and confiscated his phone to prevent him from filming them.

Fact Check: "The ICE agents allegedly left Lemus in cuffs for 20-25 minutes and confiscated his phone to prevent him from filming them."

What We Know

Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE agents in Westbury, New York, while he was a passenger in a vehicle on his way to work. During the encounter, Lemus reported that he was placed in handcuffs for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, during which time the agents confiscated his phone to prevent him from recording the incident (FOX 5 New York, Independent). Lemus stated that he was stopped because the agents claimed he "looked like somebody we are looking for" and that he was surrounded by vehicles marked with "ICE" and "HSI" (Independent). After being detained, his identification was eventually found in his pockets after the agents searched him (Yahoo).

Analysis

The claim that ICE agents left Lemus in cuffs for 20-25 minutes and confiscated his phone is supported by multiple sources. Lemus himself recounted the experience during a press conference, emphasizing the emotional distress it caused him and asserting that the agents' actions were a violation of his civil rights (FOX 5 New York, Independent). His attorney, Fred Brewington, has called for a federal investigation into the incident, labeling it as racial profiling and a breach of constitutional rights (Independent, Long Island Press).

The sources reporting on this incident, including local news outlets and national publications, appear credible. They provide consistent details about the encounter, corroborated by Lemus's own statements and the context of the broader concerns regarding ICE's tactics in immigrant communities (CBS News, MSN). However, it is essential to note that while the accounts from Lemus and his attorney are compelling, they are also subject to potential bias given their positions as the affected party and their advocates.

Conclusion

The claim that ICE agents left Elzon Lemus in cuffs for 20-25 minutes and confiscated his phone to prevent him from filming is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources supports this assertion, and Lemus's own testimony aligns with the reported timeline and actions of the ICE agents during the incident.

Sources

1. DHS releases bodycam video of incident leading to Newark Mayor Baraka's ...
2. ICE detains US citizen in NY: 'It was heartbreaking' | FOX 5 New York
3. US citizen blasts ICE after being detained as he drove to work
4. US citizen blasts ICE after being detained as he drove to ...
5. Man alleges he was wrongfully detained, handcuffed by ICE in Westbury
6. Elzon Lemus Illegally Detained By ICE In Westbury: Attorney - MSN
7. Video allegedly shows ICE agents detaining Hispanic U.S. ...
8. US citizen detained by ICE on Long Island speaks out, calls agents ...