KEY LARGO, Fla. — A woman, who asked not to be named and identified herself as an essential worker and a U.S. citizen, said on Friday that a Miami Herald video showed the third time that she had been stopped for an immigration inspection.
Federal agents reported the U.S. Border Patrol worked with CBP’s Air and Marine Operations, and the Florida Highway Patrol to arrest 14 people during immigration enforcement operations in the Florida Keys.
The woman, who was detained on Wednesday in Key Largo, said she feared the group of men -- who did not identify themselves when they ordered her to stop -- left her feeling traumatized and degraded.
“I haven’t been able to sleep well at night. I keep reliving what happened, and the fear stays with me. My arms are in significant pain, and my entire body hurts from the way I was handled,” she said. “The physical pain and emotional distress have made it extremely difficult to return to work or feel safe on the road again.”
The federal agents claimed she was driving an “illegal alien’s” car and “refused” to comply with their orders.
She said the men ordered her to stop, and before she could even reach for her driver’s license, they surrounded her car and threatened to break her window.
“I did roll down my window the moment they pulled me over, and any claim saying that I refused to do so is completely false,” she said.
The woman, who described herself as being 4-feet, 11-inches tall and weighing 85 pounds, said the agents used excessive force, searched her belongings without her consent, and didn’t identify themselves.
“I have seen many incidents online of people impersonating law enforcement, and in that moment, I panicked,” she said. “My body began shaking, and I went into severe anxiety and possibly a panic attack, genuinely afraid for my safety.”
She said the men unlocked her car door without her consent, dragged her aggressively, snatched her phone, and handcuffed her.
“Bystanders were unsure—some believed they might be federal agents, others said police, and others said ICE— but the individuals themselves never told me who they were, and their vehicle had no visible identification," she said. “They were also wearing masks, which heightened my fear, confusion, and sense of danger.”
The woman said she felt the men violated her rights.
“They placed me inside their car, and while I was restrained, I watched them search through my personal belongings— including my purse —without my consent," she said. “I know I have the right to not consent to a search, yet my rights were not respected.”
They released her and returned her identification, but she said the experience has been difficult to deal with. She also said she was grateful for the community’s response to the viral video of her detention.
“I would like to thank the community, the people around me, and everyone who has stood up, spoken up, and shown support during this incredibly painful experience,:” she said. “Your voices, your compassion, and your solidarity mean more to me than I can express.”
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