Introduction to the Incident
A University of Florida student was reportedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was arrested for multiple traffic citations.
Felipe Zapata Velasquez, 27, was cited for illegal license plate/attached mobile home sticker, driving with a license suspended or revoked with knowledge, having an expired tag after he was arrested in Gainesville the night of March 28, records showed.
Details of the Detention
Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democratic Congressman from the Orlando area, said Zapata Velasquez was later detained by ICE and taken to the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade. He claims the student’s family hasn’t heard from him since April 1. ICE officials haven’t confirmed that Zapata Velasquez was in their custody at Krome.
University and Student Body Reaction
University of Florida officials confirmed Zapata Velasquez is a third-year undergrad student at the school, majoring in Food and Resource Economics at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, but didn’t confirm he’d been detained. The detaining of Zapata Velasquez would reportedly be the first of a Florida college student since the Trump administration began its immigration crackdown. Other international students have been detained at Columbia University, Tufts University, the University of Alabama and at Harvard University.
Response from Authorities and Activists
"Felipe Zapata Velasquez is just the latest victim of Trump’s disgusting campaign against immigrants. What should have been a routine traffic stop, resulted in a nightmare as Felipe is now forced to live in the hell on Earth that is the Krome Detention Center while he awaits deportation orders," Frost said in a statement. UF student activist groups have planned a Wednesday demonstration to protest Zapata Velasquez’s detainment.
Conclusion
The detention of Felipe Zapata Velasquez highlights the increasing concerns and risks faced by international students in the United States under current immigration policies. The situation underscores the need for clarity and protection of student rights, especially in cases where minor infractions lead to severe consequences such as detention and potential deportation.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Felipe Zapata Velasquez?
- A: Felipe Zapata Velasquez is a 27-year-old University of Florida student who was detained by ICE after a traffic arrest.
- Q: What were the charges against Zapata Velasquez?
- A: Zapata Velasquez was cited for illegal license plate/attached mobile home sticker, driving with a license suspended or revoked with knowledge, and having an expired tag.
- Q: Where is Zapata Velasquez being held?
- A: According to reports, Zapata Velasquez is being held at the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade, although ICE officials have not confirmed this.
- Q: What is the reaction of the University of Florida and student groups?
- A: The University of Florida has confirmed Zapata Velasquez as a student but not his detention. Student activist groups are planning a demonstration to protest his detainment.
- Q: Is this an isolated incident?
- A: No, other international students have been detained at various universities across the U.S., including Columbia University, Tufts University, the University of Alabama, and Harvard University.
