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Mexican man thrown to ground by ICE while buying wood, son arrested intervening

Sep 25, 2026·Location: Phoenix, AZ

Country of origin: Mexico

Mexican man thrown to ground by ICE while buying wood, son arrested intervening
Photo via independent.co.uk

Luis Silas, a 58-year-old Mexican national, was detained by ICE agents in February 2026 while shopping for wood near 43rd Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix to build a bookcase for his wife. Agents appeared to identify him through his car's license plate, addressed him by name, and threw him to the ground during the arrest, injuring his arm. His son, Isaac Luis-Azamar, witnessed the arrest and intervened after believing an agent was about to strike his father; he was himself arrested and accused of assaulting an ICE officer. Silas was held for three days at ICE's Central Avenue processing facility in Phoenix, where he said he was given only a bean burrito every six hours, allowed to shower once, and had to wait to contact his family.

Timeline

Sep 25, 2026—WTOP reported additional details on the incident and detention conditions
Feb 1, 2026—Luis Silas detained by ICE agents while buying wood in Phoenix; son arrested after intervening
Jan 5, 2026—Bastille Post reported on the detention and detention conditions
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