East L.A. Man Still “Proud of being American” After Wrongful ICE Detention
By Nick Valencia
LOS ANGELES — An American man born and raised in East LA who was wrongfully detained by ICE agents this week said the experience reinforced his love for America—but also underscored a painful reality for Latinos across the country.
The man, who asked to be identified as “Jason” spoke to me by phone minutes after joining the “No Kings” march in Los Angeles. It was his first ever demonstration, he said.
The incident has galvanized him.
“[‘I’m here] because my people are here,” he said about joining his first ever march.
“They’re being mistreated right now. There’s a bunch of American legal immigrants that are being treated [unjustly]. That’s why I have to be here.”
On Thursday, Jason said ICE agents entered the building where he runs his business, questioned his status despite his documentation, confiscated his phone for nearly 20 minutes, and held him without explanation.
During video of the incident which went viral, Jason can be heard clearly stating that he was an American. Even still, ICE agents detained him.
“I was at my place of business,” he said. “I was always peaceful. I never put my hands on anyone.”
He believes they seized his phone to prevent him from recording the encounter. “That’s why I started screaming… they didn’t want to give me my phone back.”
Despite the confrontation, Jason maintains his patriotism remains intact. “No, sir,” he told me when asked if the experience changed how he feels about the country or its leadership.
“Everything is still great… I’m proud of being American.”
But the ordeal has sharpened his awareness: mainstream Latinos—U.S.-born, legally here, who “look brown”—can still be targeted.
“You went through what a lot of us fear the most,” I said.
“I’m not running from that… this is America. This is the melting pot.”
As for legal action, he hasn’t decided yet, saying only: “I’ll message y’all… I just want this message out. We’ll come back, no matter what.”