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Kenny L.: 18-year-old U.S. citizen held six hours by Border Patrol at traffic stop

Kenny Laynez, 18, a U.S. citizen, was held six hours and pushed face-down by agents during a May 2 traffic stop to a landscaping job. A coworker was tasered twice.

May 2, 2025North Palm Beach, FL

Kenny L.: 18-year-old U.S. citizen held six hours by Border Patrol at traffic stop
Photo via USA Today

Kenny Laynez, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen born in West Palm Beach, was detained for six hours by Florida Highway Patrol and Border Patrol agents on May 2 after being stopped while driving to a landscaping job with his mother and two undocumented coworkers. Video footage captured officers using physical force against Laynez, twisting his arms and pushing him face-down to the pavement, while tasering one of his coworkers twice. An officer told Laynez, "You have no rights here. You are a 'Migo,' brother," after Laynez asserted his citizenship. Laynez was eventually released from a Riviera Beach federal facility after agents confirmed his citizenship status, but was charged with misdemeanor obstruction without violence and entered a pretrial diversion program.

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