LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) – A U.S. citizen said he was stopped and searched by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Long Island.
Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old from Brentwood, was told he looked like someone ICE was searching for during the June 3 interaction near Cambridge Avenue and Cross Street, according to his lawyer, Frederick Brewington.
The incident was caught on video. Lemus was a passenger in a car when ICE agents reached into the car and opened the door, making Lemus get out, according to his lawyer. He was searched with no explanation, Brewington said.
Lemus was targeted simply because he is Hispanic, his lawyer said. He was born on Long Island and graduated from Brentwood High School.
"There has been a scourge happening in the communities of color... That cannot and should not be allowed," Brewington said. "People, because of the color of their skin... are being targeted."
The officers refused to identify themselves, Brewington said. Lemus, whose family owns a business in the Brentwood area, is traumatized from the event.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to PIX11's request for comment.
This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
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