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Brooke B.: Two U.S. citizens detained by ICE at San Diego grocery store

Brooke Benner, an American citizen and mother, was handcuffed by ICE agents outside a San Diego grocery store after filming them detain another man. A second citizen nearby was tackled; both were held about seven hours and released without charges.

Sep 16, 2025San Diego, CA

Brooke B.: Two U.S. citizens detained by ICE at San Diego grocery store
Photo via NBC San Diego

Brooke Benner, an American citizen with a young daughter, was detained by ICE agents in the parking lot of an El Super grocery store in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood after she began filming agents who had just detained another man. Agents grabbed and handcuffed her within seconds, telling her she was being arrested for "impeding" their operations. Shortly after, agents detained a second American citizen nearby after witnesses said she kicked a federal vehicle; community patrollers recording the encounter said agents pinned her against a car before tackling her to the ground, while another agent pointed a taser at bystanders. Both women were taken to a federal building downtown, held for about seven hours, and released without charges. DHS described the two as "agitators attempting to impede operations," while Benner said she was targeted for criticizing agents and that the experience frightened her, though she plans to continue monitoring ICE activity in her community.

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