A video that allegedly captures a tense encounter between United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and a Hispanic U.S. citizen has ignited discussions about law enforcement practices.
The incident took place on June 3 at around 7:30 a.m. in Westbury, New York.
Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old Brentwood native, was en route to work as an electrician when ICE agents pulled over his vehicle.
In the video, Lemus is seen questioning the agents, asking, “What is this for?”
An ICE agent responds, “You look like someone we’re looking for,” to which Lemus counters, “Who are you looking for? Because it’s definitely not me.”
As the situation escalated, the agent demanded to see Lemus’s identification.
However, Lemus refused to comply, citing the lack of specific details regarding the agents’ intentions.
Legal experts have stated that he was within his rights to refuse to provide his ID as the agents had not established reasonable suspicion or probable cause for the detainment.
The confrontation intensified when an agent warned Lemus, “If we don’t get your ID, then we’re gonna have to figure out another way to ID you, and it may not work out well for you.”
The video then shows the agent reaching into the vehicle and opening the passenger door without a warrant.
Lemus reported that he subsequently stopped filming when the agents placed him in handcuffs and did not disclose their identities despite multiple requests for names and badge numbers.
He said he remained detained outside for about an hour, spending 20 minutes in handcuffs.
Feeling victimized, Lemus stated, “I am a victim because of my race.”
His attorney, Frederick K. Brewington, emphasized that the entire incident demonstrates a fundamental violation of Lemus’s civil liberties.
Brewington argued that the agents’ actions constituted racial profiling and called for a thorough investigation by the U.S. Justice Department.
An appeal to uphold civil rights echoed throughout the community, with local figures reacting strongly to the incident.
Assemblymember Karines Reyes expressed concern, saying, “Deeply troubling to see our civil rights being trampled on like this.”
Phil Ramos, Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly and a former police officer, criticized the encounter, stating, “I know exactly what lawful policing looks like and what it does not look like, and this was not it.”
The Nassau County Police Department has not commented on the situation, and it remains unclear if they assisted ICE agents during the detainment.
Notably, Nassau County offers one of the few jurisdictions where local police collaborate with ICE under a formal agreement.
In response to the incident, Reyes is sponsoring legislative efforts to prohibit law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE.
She emphasized that there are pressing community issues that should be prioritized over immigration enforcement.
“There are real crimes, real community issues that our law enforcement should be focusing on,” Reyes asserted.
As the public grapples with the ramifications of this encounter, the need for reform in how local law enforcement interacts with federal immigration authorities is increasingly underscored.
image source from：https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ice-detains-us-citizen-long-island-video/
