Haitian football player remains in ICE custody weeks after school-zone traffic stop
Aug 19, 2026·Location: Port St. Lucie, FL
Country of origin: Haiti

Emmanuel Nelson, 18, a senior linebacker for Port St. Lucie High School's football and wrestling teams, was pulled over for driving 45 mph in a 20 mph school zone and is still in ICE custody more than a week later. Police found he was not a U.S. citizen and contacted ICE, which placed a detainer on him; he was first held at the St. Lucie County Jail and is now at the Broward Transitional Center. ICE says Nelson entered the U.S. legally in January 2016 but violated the terms of his admission, while his family says he came through the Haitian Family Reunification Program and has a pending residency petition from a U.S. citizen step-parent, and had held a valid work permit, Social Security number and driver's license. His coach and teammates have said they hope to welcome him back to the team.
Sources
- Port St. Lucie High football player held on ICE detainer after school zone speeding stop
cbs12.com·Aug 27, 2026·archived copy
- Port St. Lucie High School Football Player Remains in ICE Custody After Traffic Stop – L'union Suite
lunionsuite.com·Aug 27, 2026·archived copy
- tcpalm.com
- bvmsports.com
- collector.com.tr
More incidents in Florida
- Cuban man detained in Florida, deported to Central African Republic, held in BanguiOct 6, 2026 · West Palm Beach, FL
- Man dons ICE costume, intimidates Brazilian election voters in MiamiOct 4, 2026 · Miami, FL
- Cuban man detained by ICE for two months, mother pleads for his releaseOct 3, 2026 · Hialeah, FL
- Detainees sue over conditions at Miramar ICE facility in FloridaOct 2, 2026 · Miramar, FL
- US citizen punched by ICE agent during Naples Manor van stop, protest plannedOct 2, 2026 · Naples Manor, FL
- Three Guatemalan taqueria workers detained in Tallahassee ICE raid, restaurant shuts downOct 2, 2026 · Tallahassee, FL