An 18-year-old youth born in West Palm Beach was violently arrested by Border Patrol agents and the Florida Highway Patrol while heading to a landscaping job with his mother and two undocumented companions.
The operation, which was recorded on the young man's phone, exposes scenes of mistreatment, abuse of power, and mockery by the officers involved.
Everything happened on May 2nd, when Kenny Laynez, his mother, and his companions were traveling in a van and were intercepted by the authorities.
Although they were driving under the speed limit and had the vehicle's paperwork, an officer approached, asked for the documents, and then said that the mother's license was suspended.
One of the agents asked in Spanish, "Who is illegal here? Whoever takes the longest to respond will face more charges and spend more time in jail." One of the workers, named Esdras, replied with a trembling voice, "I... I am here illegally."
Immediately, they were ordered to open the vehicle door. Laynez, taken aback, remarked, "Wait, wait. You don't have the right to do that." To which an officer replied, laughing, "Don’t have the right?" and forcefully opened the door.
The images show the police forcefully removing the occupants. One was grabbed by the hair, and Esdras was held by the neck and dragged out.
When Laynez tried to get down, an agent pushed him from behind, twisted his arms, and pressed him against the pavement with a knee.
Meanwhile, another officer shot Esdras twice in the stomach with a Taser. The young man fell to the ground crying, his body convulsing from the shocks. Laynez, distressed, exclaimed: "What are you doing? That's not how you arrest someone."
In the midst of the detainment, Laynez shouted: "I have the right to speak. I was born and raised here." An officer responded, "You have no rights here. You're a 'Migo,' brother." That term is often used as a derogatory reference to his ethnic background.
While the boy was lying on the sidewalk, his cellphone continued recording and captured the conversation between the officers. "Once he applied it correctly, he took him out," one said. Another added, "You're funny, man," followed by a third who laughed and said, "It was funny."
For the next few minutes, the police continued to laugh as they talked about the use of force and alleged resistance to arrest.
One justified the use of the Taser by saying that Esdras was "high." "That's why we shot him with an electric gun." Another commented: "They're starting to resist... we're going to end up shooting someone."
After the arrest, Laynez was taken to a federal center in Riviera Beach. There, he remained for six hours, separated from his companions, who were transported to the Krome Detention Center in Miami.
According to what he said, they were not offered any water or food at the federal center. The only available bathroom was outdoors, with no doors or privacy.
Laynez also recounted that an officer pressured him to unlock his phone, telling him that she needed to check if he had recorded videos of the arrest. He refused, closed the apps, and locked the phone.
Finally, a supervisor confirmed that he is a U.S. citizen and ordered his release, but not before he was charged with non-violent obstruction of justice.
The video recorded by Laynez was shared by the Guatemalan-Maya Center of Lake Worth Beach and has generated outrage among community leaders and civil rights advocates.
The story was first reported by the .
Father Frank O’Loughlin, director of the center, noted that the case reflects "the corruption of the police forces by Maga and the brutality of state and federal troops... towards non-violent individuals."
For lawyer Jack Scarola, the incident is a reflection of the systematic disregard for civil rights in the context of immigration policies in Florida. "We should all feel not only offended, but outraged," he stated.
Laynez, deeply affected, stated that the video is his only evidence. "Basically, I would have nothing... And no one would believe what happened or how the situation escalated. It’s possible that even more things are happening that are not being recorded."
"The truth is that we were only going to work. We are not criminals," he emphasized.
Frequently Asked Questions about Violent Arrests in Florida
What happened during Kenny Laynez's arrest in Florida?
Kenny Laynez was violently arrested by the Border Patrol and the Florida Highway Patrol while heading to work. The operation showed scenes of mistreatment, abuse of power, and mockery by the involved agents.
Are there immigration policies in Florida that permit this type of operations?
Yes, the immigration policies in Florida, driven by Governor Ron DeSantis, have empowered the state Highway Patrol to carry out immigration enforcement tasks. This has resulted in increased collaboration between agencies to conduct immigration operations, such as the detention of undocumented immigrants during traffic stops.
What are the criticisms of these immigration operations in Florida?
The criticism focuses on the fact that these operations represent a systematic violation of civil rights and an abuse of power by the authorities. Civil rights advocates have pointed out that these actions reflect a policy of intimidation and discrimination against the immigrant community.
What rights do individuals have during an operation by the Border Patrol or ICE?
People have basic rights during these operations, such as remaining silent and requesting to see a search warrant before allowing entry to their property. However, these rights are often ignored or violated by authorities during the operations.
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