ICE 'No Comment' After Citizen's 48-Hour Ordeal
Secretary Noem leading an ICE raid in New York City. Photo courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security. Public domain.
On a seemingly ordinary morning in June 2025, Andrea Velez, a 32-year-old Los Angeles native and Cal Poly Pomona graduate, was heading to work when her life took a harrowing turn. Outside her downtown office, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents launched a raid that would reportedly leave Velez detained for 48 hours under conditions she and her legal team describe as inhumane. Despite repeatedly proving her U.S. citizenship with photo ID and health insurance cards, Velez was allegedly held without water for a full day. Her story exposes a disturbing breakdown in civil protections and raises urgent questions about accountability and reform in immigration enforcement.
A Sudden and Traumatic Arrest
Andrea Velez was just arriving at her job as a production coordinator for a shoe company when ICE agents, dressed in plain clothes but wearing "Police" vests, suddenly appeared. According to The Guardian, witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with agents chasing vendors and pedestrians on the street. Velez froze, clutching her bag, before one agent grabbed her and reportedly slammed her to the ground. She tried to tell the agent she was a U.S. citizen, but was told she was interfering and would be arrested regardless. When she asked to see the agent's badge and warrant, she was denied that information.
Her mother and sister, who had just dropped her off, reportedly watched helplessly as she was taken away. According to The Daily Beast, her mother pleaded with the agents, insisting that her daughter was a citizen, but to no avail.
Held Without Water Despite Proof of Citizenship
Once in custody, Velez continued to assert her citizenship. She presented her driver's license, health insurance card, and other identification to ICE officers at the detention center in downtown Los Angeles. Yet, her pleas were ignored. According to The Guardian, for 24 hours, she was denied water. Other detainees informed her that she would have to buy a cup to drink, but having just been detained, she had no funds. A fellow inmate eventually donated a cup and utensils to her.
Velez spent two days in the detention center before being released. The Department of Justice later dismissed her case without prejudice, meaning it could be reopened, but for now, the charges are dropped, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
The Assault Charge: An Allegation by DOJ
The Department of Justice charged Velez with assaulting a federal officer, an allegation based on an affidavit describing her alleged interference with an ICE agent who was chasing a suspect. According to the affidavit, Velez stepped into the officer's path and extended her arm, striking the officer's face as he was pursuing another individual, as reported by The Guardian. The charge carried a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
Velez has denied these allegations, saying she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. "I never hit anyone. I've never hurt anybody, ever. Everyone who knows me knows the kind of person I am. I'm quiet, reserved, always doing the right thing, always following rules," she said, as reported by The Guardian. Sixteen days after her arrest, the justice department moved to dismiss the charges against her.
A Fearful Experience
Velez's ordeal was not just a bureaucratic failure but a deeply traumatic experience. She described feeling terror as she was treated like a criminal despite her citizenship. The agents' dismissiveness and refusal to verify their authority compounded her fear. She even ran toward Los Angeles police officers during the arrest, hoping for help, reportedly telling an officer, "If I did something wrong, I'd rather have you arrest me. I trust people with uniforms," according to The Guardian — only to be handcuffed and carried away by ICE agents.
Since her release, Velez has been unable to return to her workplace in downtown Los Angeles. She works remotely, reportedly grappling with anxiety and trauma from the incident. She no longer goes on her morning runs and avoids leaving home alone, haunted by the fear that ICE could "randomly attack and take you" again, as reported by The Guardian.
A Pattern of Mistakes and Misconduct
Velez's case is not isolated. According to The Daily Beast, between 2015 and 2020, ICE mistakenly deported at least 70 U.S. citizens, detained 121, and arrested 674. The Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement campaign has led to numerous wrongful detentions and deportations, often targeting people who have legal status.
Other cases reportedly include a U.S. citizen detained during a traffic stop, a deputy U.S. marshal arrested because he "fit the general description of a subject being sought by ICE," and a Ph.D. student tackled by ICE for recording a raid. These incidents highlight systemic issues in immigration enforcement, including racial profiling and disregard for due process.
Legal Battles and Calls for Accountability
Velez's attorneys are reportedly exploring legal action against ICE and Customs and Border Protection, seeking accountability for what they describe as a false and unlawful arrest. Her lawyer noted that requests for body camera footage and witness statements were denied and said, "I never got them. That tells me they did not have the evidence they needed and this was a false and unlawful arrest. It is a shocking and disgusting travesty of justice, and no human, never mind an American citizen, should ever be treated like that," as reported by The Guardian.
The Department of Justice, ICE, and other agencies have reportedly declined to comment on the specifics of Velez's case. The Bureau of Prisons, which operates the detention center, stated its mission is to maintain safe and humane facilities but did not address the allegations of water deprivation.
The Human Cost of Enforcement Overreach
The physical and emotional toll on Velez and others caught in these raids is profound. Velez reportedly witnessed other detainees suffering, including a man who was pepper-sprayed and convulsing but denied medical attention. She described the detention center as a place where ordinary people are made to seem like they're criminals, "the worst of the worst, when we're just regular people," according to The Guardian.
Her story is a stark reminder that enforcement policies must be balanced with respect for civil rights and human dignity. The fear and trauma inflicted on innocent citizens undermine trust in law enforcement and the justice system.
A Clarion Call for Reform
Andrea Velez's experience demands urgent attention. It exposes a system where even U.S. citizens can be swept up in aggressive immigration raids, held without basic necessities, and charged with crimes. The lack of transparency and accountability in these cases fuels public outrage and calls for policy reform.
References: US citizen detained by ICE recounts experience | U.S. Citizen Andrea Velez: I Was Seized by ICE and Held for Days Without Water | US citizens jailed in LA Ice raids speak out: 'They came ready to attack' | US immigration | The Guardian
