The U.S.-born veteran who recently received a six-figure settlement from Grand Rapids, Michigan, after local police turned him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents has filed a reported $1,000,000 lawsuit against the out-of-control federal immigration agency, seeking records and other information related to his wrongful detention in 2018.
Jilmar Ramos-Gomez was jailed in ICE custody for three days after he was racially profiled by police. While Ramos-Gomez was carrying his passport and other documentation, officials ignored it. “Body cam footage of Ramos-Gomez's arrest obtained by The Detroit News through Freedom of Information Act requests shows Grand Rapids police officers were aware of Ramos-Gomez' citizenship status and military service before placing him in custody,” The Detroit News reported.
ICE then ignored that documentation as well, with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan saying in a statement that the detention worsened his post-traumatic stress disorder to the point where he doesn’t like to leave his home anymore. “The claim lays out the information ICE had clearly showing Ramos-Gomez was a U.S. citizen and Marine, and alleges that ICE detained and tried to deport him anyway,” the statement continued.
While Ramos-Gomez eventually received $190,000 from Grand Rapids for local police’s role in his wrongful detention, this U.S. citizen and military veteran should never have been in the custody of ICE for even one second, period, and the agency needs to be held accountable. “Jilmar Ramos-Gomez fought and served our country selflessly, yet ICE tried to deport this hometown hero and blatantly disregarded his citizenship, service, and mental health challenges,” said the ACLU’s Miriam Aukerman.
The claim also seeks to find out more information about other U.S. citizens and permanent residents that the agency has wrongfully detained, as well as more information regarding “policies and procedures regarding people with mental health issues or disabilities,” due to his PTSD worsening in custody. “Mr. Ramos-Gomez, and the public, deserve to know why the United States government abused its own citizen and veteran,” Aukerman continued, “and how many others have suffered in the same way.”