HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

U.S. citizen held over 30 hours by ICE despite birth certificate, Social Security card

Apr 19, 2025·Location: Leon County, FL

U.S. citizen held over 30 hours by ICE despite birth certificate, Social Security card
Photo via truthout.org

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen born in Cairo, Georgia, who grew up speaking the Indigenous Maya language Tzotzil after moving to Mexico as an infant before returning to the U.S. four years ago, was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol on April 16, 2025 after being stopped for speeding while riding as a passenger with two men carrying Guatemalan IDs. He was charged under Florida's Senate Bill 4C, a state law criminalizing unauthorized entry that had been temporarily blocked by court order, despite presenting a Georgia ID. He was held at Leon County Jail on an ICE detainer without food, even after his mother, Sebastiana Gomez-Perez, and a community advocate presented his birth certificate and Social Security card. A Leon County judge confirmed his citizenship and found no probable cause for his detention, but said she lacked jurisdiction to order his release because ICE had requested a 48-hour hold. After roughly 30 hours in custody, he was released and reunited with his mother amid a crowd of protesters outside the jail, following public advocacy from civil rights advocates, journalists, and elected officials.

Timeline

Apr 18, 2025—Released after approximately 24-30 hours in custody, reunited with his mother amid protesters outside the jail
Apr 17, 2025—Held at Leon County Jail on an ICE detainer despite presenting birth certificate and Social Security card; judge confirms citizenship but cites lack of jurisdiction to order release
Apr 16, 2025—Arrested by Florida Highway Patrol after a speeding stop and charged under Florida's SB 4C immigration law
Suggest a correction, comment, or update

Sources

More incidents in Florida