A California-born US citizen is taking federal immigration authorities to court after enduring what he describes as a "nightmare scenario" of being detained twice within months by agents who refused to believe he was American.
The First Detention: A Traffic Stop Turns Terrifying
Gerardo Gonzalez, 38, was first detained in February 2024 after being pulled over for a minor traffic violation in Southern California. Despite presenting his California driver's licence and birth certificate, immigration officials were called to the scene and took him into custody.
"I kept telling them, 'I was born in Riverside, I'm an American citizen,' but they wouldn't listen," Gonzalez recounted. "They treated me like a criminal just because of how I look."
System Failure Leads to Second Ordeal
In a shocking turn of events, Gonzalez was detained again just four months later while travelling domestically. Immigration agents intercepted him at an airport, citing his previous detention record in their system.
"The fact that this happened twice shows this wasn't just a one-time mistake," said Gonzalez's attorney, Maria Rodriguez. "There are fundamental flaws in how immigration authorities verify citizenship and maintain records."
Lawsuit Highlights Wider Concerns
The federal lawsuit alleges that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violated Gonzalez's constitutional rights through false imprisonment and racial profiling.
Legal experts note this case reflects broader concerns about immigration enforcement practices and the challenges faced by US citizens who are wrongly targeted due to ethnic background or appearance.
An ICE spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation, while CBP stated they "follow established protocols for verifying individual identities and immigration status."
