U.S. deports University of Florida student after being detained in traffic stop

Felipe Zapata Velázquez, a student at the University of Florida, was deported to his home country, Colombia, after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a traffic violation in Gainesville, in the southern state, reported NBC Miami.

Zapata, a third-year student in the Bachelor of Food and Resource Economics at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida, was detained on March 28th. The 27-year-old held a valid F-1 student visa.

The mother, Claudia Velázquez, stated that at this time Zapata "is in a process of physical and emotional recovery, and we are prioritizing his overall well-being and health," according to a statement in Spanish obtained and translated by the television station.

Previously, Velázquez explained in statements to Univision 23 that his son was processing the I-20 form to renew his license and that he had already paid the corresponding fines.

However, he recounted that after resolving the matter at the police station, ICE agents intercepted him and informed him that, due to having that infraction on his record, they had to take him into custody.

Subsequently, he was transferred to Jacksonville and then to the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade, where, according to his mother, he was pressured to sign a self-deportation agreement without the presence of a lawyer.

A new internal directive from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP, for its acronym in English) instructs officers to arrest and detain undocumented immigrants who commit any traffic violation, such as driving without a valid license, with the aim of facilitating their subsequent deportation.

The legal regulations also stipulate that agents may detain individuals for up to one hour, even if they are not suspected of committing a crime, while awaiting the arrival of federal immigration agents to pick them up.

This instruction has generated strong criticism from legal experts and civil rights advocacy organizations, who warn of a possible violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects against arbitrary detentions, emphasized El Nuevo Herald.

Political controversy

The Democratic congressman from Florida Maxwell Frost described the event as "government kidnapping."

“Felipe Zapata Velásquez is just the latest victim of Trump's disgusting campaign against immigrants. What should have been a routine traffic stop turned into a nightmare,” the legislator stated, as cited by NBC Miami.

Previously, state legislator Yvonne Hinson, a Democrat from Florida, questioned Zapata's detention, arguing that a simple traffic violation does not warrant such a severe measure. In statements reported by Local10 News, she stated that “immigrants are under attack now more than ever.”

Reactions

For this Wednesday, the 9th, at 12:15 p.m. (Eastern Time), the Young Democratic Socialists of America organization at the University of Florida had called for a protest to demand the restoration of the immigration status of the Colombian student.

“Right now, we see waves and waves of fear in the student community because no one knows what action could land them in an ICE prison,” said Dimitris Liveris, leader of the organization, to NBC Miami.

The case of Felipe is not the only one that has raised questions in recent days. Víctor Manuel Izquierdo, a young Cuban resident in Florida, was arrested on his birthday after attending a immigration appointment, despite having a pending marriage-based residency application and no criminal record.

Another case that caused outrage was that of José Francisco García Rodríguez, a 73-year-old Cuban who was detained in Louisiana after living in the United States for more than 45 years. His family reported that, despite having tried to regularize his status for years, ICE arrested him without prior notice while he was on his way to work. He was released a week later.

The case of José Gregorio González, a Venezuelan who was accompanying his brother to a dialysis appointment also came to light when he was arrested by ICE. The man was in the United States with the intention of donating a kidney; he was in custody for nearly a month before being released for humanitarian reasons.

In California, a 22-year-old Hispanic woman was intercepted by armed ICE agents in front of her home after dropping her sister off at school. Although she is a legal resident and was released, the incident triggered a panic attack and affected her emotional and work stability, according to her testimony.

And in Boston, a judge found an ICE agent who arrested a Dominican migrant during a court hearing in contempt of court. The magistrate described the act as an affront to justice and ordered a review of the conduct of the involved prosecutors.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Deportation of Felipe Zapata Velázquez and Immigration Policies in Florida