In brief
Leo Garcia Venegas, a U.S. citizen from Alabama, has filed a class-action lawsuit against the government, alleging unlawful immigration enforcement practices targeting workers based on their appearance. Venegas argues that he was unlawfully detained by immigration agents during workplace raids without warrants. He demands accountability for these actions, asserting the violation of his rights as a citizen.
An Alabama construction worker and U.S. citizen, Leo Garcia Venegas, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration’s workplace immigration raids, claiming that these actions are unconstitutional and discriminatory. Venegas, who has faced detention by immigration agents twice in a short span, argues the raids violate citizens' rights, particularly targeting those perceived as illegal based on their ethnicity.The lawsuit, initiated by the Institute for Justice, highlights experiences of workers detained during raids without proper warrants or specific suspicions of illegal status. Venegas, based in coastal Baldwin County, Alabama, describes being unjustly apprehended at a construction site despite his U.S. citizenship and valid Alabama-issued REAL ID driver’s license. He recounts a dramatic encounter in May where video captured agents forcibly detaining him.In a statement, Venegas expressed frustration over the threat of immigration enforcement lurking around him, stating, 'It feels like there is nothing I can do to stop immigration agents from arresting me whenever they want. I just want to work in peace.' The lawsuit follows recent legal changes where federal courts permitted strict immigration policies, which have led to increased scrutiny of immigrant-heavy industries.The legal team emphasized that such practices unjustly profile individuals based solely on ethnic appearance, arguing this compromises the civil liberties of citizens like Venegas.DHS has yet to comment on the lawsuit, but Velasquez’s case underscores ongoing debates surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S.
