Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a US citizen, was imprisoned by ICE despite the judge viewing his birth certificate.

Despite the county judge’s ability to view a U.S. birth certificate in court, an American citizen was detained in a Florida jail at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, who was born in the United States, was detained by the Florida Highway Patrol on Wednesday and charged with illegally entering the Sunshine State as an “unauthorised alien” under a state law that has been temporarily blocked by a judge, according to the Florida Phoenix news outlet.

Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans stated on Thursday that, despite the fact that the case against Lopez-Gomez had been dismissed, she lacked the power to release the 20-year-old since ICE had requested that he be held at Leon County Jail.

The judge examined Lopez-Gomez’s birth certificate, which had been waived earlier in court by a supporter, saying, “In looking at it, feeling it, and holding it up to the light, the court can clearly see the watermark to show that this is indeed an authentic document,” according to Florida Phoenix.

Lopez-Gomez was driving from Georgia when he was pulled over in Florida by a Highway Patrol trooper.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a comprehensive immigration bill making it a state crime for illegal immigrants over 18 to “knowingly enter or attempt to enter” Florida by “eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers”.

Gomez-Lopez was born in Georgia. The Florida Phoenix claimed that his first language is Tzotzil.

His mother sobbed after watching her son appear for a virtual hearing in court.

“I wanted to warn them, ‘Where will you take him?”He’s from here,” she informed the site. “I felt immense helplessness because I couldn’t do anything, and I am desperate to get my son out of there.”

Protests erupted in front of the Leon County jail, where the 20-year-old was detained. He was released and reunited with his mother on Thursday evening, according to the Florida Phoenix.

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was released later on.

Source: The Hill, Yahoo News.