A 20-year-old American citizen who was mistakenly detained under Florida’s controversial immigration law has been released from custody, bringing national attention to the law’s potential for abuse.
Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, born in Georgia, was stopped while riding in a car through Florida and arrested under Senate Bill 1718 — legislation aimed at cracking down on undocumented immigrants. Despite presenting his Social Security card and birth certificate, Lopez-Gomez was charged with being an unauthorized immigrant for allegedly entering Florida “without inspection.”
In court, Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans reviewed Lopez-Gomez’s birth certificate and found no probable cause for the charge. Nevertheless, due to a detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the judge initially ruled she had no authority to release him.
Lopez-Gomez’s mother, Sebastiana Gomez-Perez, was devastated by her son’s detention, stating that even though her son is a U.S. citizen, the legal system left him powerless. “I couldn’t help him. They wouldn’t even listen to us,” she told reporters.
On Thursday evening, following mounting public pressure and legal clarification, ICE lifted the hold, and Lopez-Gomez was released from custody.
The incident has raised new questions about the implementation of Florida’s immigration law, especially regarding racial profiling and violations of civil rights. Critics warn the law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in February, opens the door to unjust detentions — particularly of Latinos and other minorities — regardless of legal status.
