It looks like Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was arrested on Wednesday (possibly Thursday, very early AM). He saw a judge on Thursday afternoon. He was held for a few hours after the hearing because of an ICE request, before being released on Thursday evening.
I don't want to say that an incorrect arrest is ever good; but if the cops were acting in good faith, then nothing here seems to shock the conscience. It feels like the equivalent of the police seeing someone breaking into a car at 3AM, getting an explanation of "But officer! That's my car! I just misplaced my keys!" and then releasing the person the next day when it's proven that they do - in fact - own the car.
Even the "Immigrations and Customs Enforcement" hold (which was apparently a few hours) doesn't seem that stunning. Federal law requires everyone - citizens included - to cross the border at an authorized checkpoints. So, if the police believed that Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez crossed the border illegally then ICE could want to talk to him about not complying with customs rules, even if he's a citizen.
This seems like a non-story because Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was released the same day as his court hearing.
Here's an article that includes timelines: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/us-born-american-citizen-ice-hold-florida-released-rcna201854
It looks like Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was arrested on Wednesday (possibly Thursday, very early AM). He saw a judge on Thursday afternoon. He was held for a few hours after the hearing because of an ICE request, before being released on Thursday evening.
I don't want to say that an incorrect arrest is ever good; but if the cops were acting in good faith, then nothing here seems to shock the conscience. It feels like the equivalent of the police seeing someone breaking into a car at 3AM, getting an explanation of "But officer! That's my car! I just misplaced my keys!" and then releasing the person the next day when it's proven that they do - in fact - own the car.
Even the "Immigrations and Customs Enforcement" hold (which was apparently a few hours) doesn't seem that stunning. Federal law requires everyone - citizens included - to cross the border at an authorized checkpoints. So, if the police believed that Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez crossed the border illegally then ICE could want to talk to him about not complying with customs rules, even if he's a citizen.
More options
Context Copy link