In a troubling incident highlighting the complexities of immigration enforcement, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained in Leon County, Florida, after being charged with illegally entering the state as an “unauthorized alien.” This arrest occurred during a traffic stop on April 16, 2025, where Lopez-Gomez was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for speeding.
Despite being born in Grady County, Georgia, and presenting his U.S. birth certificate and Social Security card in court, Lopez-Gomez remained in custody due to a request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His mother, Sebastiana Gomez-Perez, was visibly distraught during the court proceedings, expressing her frustration and helplessness as she sought to understand why her son, a U.S. citizen, was being treated as an undocumented immigrant.
“I wanted to tell them, ‘Where are you going to take him? He is from here,’” Gomez-Perez said in Spanish, her voice breaking with emotion. “I felt immense helplessness because I couldn’t do anything, and I am desperate to get my son out of there.”
Judge LaShawn Riggans of the Leon County Court examined Lopez-Gomez’s birth certificate, confirming its authenticity. “In looking at it, and feeling it, and holding it up to the light, the court can clearly see the watermark to show that this is indeed an authentic document,” she stated. However, despite finding no probable cause for the misdemeanor charge, Judge Riggans indicated that she lacked jurisdiction to release him due to ICE’s hold.
The situation has sparked outrage among immigration advocates, who argue that Lopez-Gomez’s case exemplifies the potential for racial profiling and the dangers of strict immigration laws. Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, met with Gomez-Perez at the courthouse and noted the distressing implications of the case. “It was just really sad seeing the mother distraught over her son, and the fact that she acknowledged that this is very likely a case of racial profiling against a U.S. citizen who can’t speak English,” Kennedy said.
Lopez-Gomez’s arrest comes in the context of Florida’s newly implemented anti-immigration law, SB 4-C, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on February 14, 2025. This law makes it a misdemeanor for undocumented immigrants over the age of 18 to knowingly enter the state after eluding immigration officers. However, the enforcement of this law has been temporarily blocked by a federal court, raising questions about the legality of Lopez-Gomez’s arrest.
On April 4, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams issued a ruling that halted the law’s enforcement, stating that it could not be applied to those already in the country legally. Despite this, Lopez-Gomez was detained under the law, and his case has ignited discussions about the intersection of state and federal immigration policies.
Lopez-Gomez, who primarily speaks Tzotzil, a Mayan language, has faced additional challenges due to language barriers during his detention. His mother explained that he lived in Mexico from the age of one until returning to Georgia four years ago. “He hasn’t committed a crime for them to hold him, that’s what I don’t understand,” she lamented, highlighting the confusion surrounding his legal status.
The Florida Highway Patrol officer who arrested Lopez-Gomez noted in his report that the young man had admitted to being in the country illegally, a claim that has raised eyebrows given the evidence of his citizenship. This incident marks the second time Lopez-Gomez has been arrested; he was previously taken into custody by the Grady County Sheriff’s Office on April 13, 2025, and charged with driving under the influence.
As Lopez-Gomez awaits further action from ICE, his family and supporters are calling for his immediate release, asserting that U.S. citizens should not be subjected to such detentions. “The Constitution provides guardrails to protect due process and prevent unlawful arrests,” said Amy Godshall, a legal fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida. “His detention was based on a patently false allegation that he entered the state while undocumented.”
The case has drawn national attention, as it underscores the broader implications of aggressive immigration enforcement policies, particularly those that may ensnare U.S. citizens. Advocates argue that the current political climate, influenced by the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration, has created an environment where such incidents are not only possible but likely.
“We are seeing this in real-time. And it is coming at the cost of lives and the rule of law,” Godshall added, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in immigration practices to prevent further injustices.
As of now, Lopez-Gomez remains in custody as federal immigration officials prepare to assess his case. His family continues to advocate for his release, hoping to bring him home soon. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by individuals caught in the crosshairs of immigration enforcement, particularly when laws and policies may not align with basic human rights and legal protections.
In the meantime, the community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that honors the rights of all citizens, regardless of their immigration history.
