Introduction to the Incident
Police body camera shows a University of Florida student, who was reportedly detained by immigration officials, being pulled over and questioned by officers in Gainesville.
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 the night of March 28, records showed.
The Traffic Stop
Police bodycam released Tuesday showed the moments Zapata Velasquez was stopped by a police officer. The officer asks Zapata Velasquez for his license and if he goes to school at the University of Florida. "I’m an international student," he tells the officer. "I just came from Colombia." The officer runs his information and finds out Zapata Velasquez’s license is suspended. "What’s up with your license, man?" the officer asks. "Your license is suspended."
Arrest and Detention
Zapata Velasquez tells the officer he is in the middle of renewing his license as well as his student visa. Officers then put him in handcuffs, telling him he is being arrested for driving with a suspended license. "You already got a citation for this before, this is now your second citation; however, now you’re gonna go to the courts for it," the officer says.
Aftermath and Reaction
A University of Florida student who was reportedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was arrested for multiple traffic citations is back in Colombia, his mother says. Zapata Velasquez is a third-year undergrad student, majoring in Food and Resource Economics at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida. Nuestra Tele Noticias, a TV station in Latin America, spoke to his mother, Claudia Velasquez, who said her son was forced to sign documents that allow his deportation.
Details from the Mother
In a statement Tuesday, Claudia Velasquez said her son had returned to Colombia, though she didn’t say if he was deported or left the U.S. on his own. "They pulled him over, told him his license was suspended. They took him to the station and at the station is where they started to do the process to pay his bond. Obviously, they knew they were gonna hold him. Once he was done with the whole process, ICE was waiting for him," she said. She said he had been in the process of renewing his F-1 student visa. "They knew it was a mistake. It was an error, but that doesn’t make him a criminal," the mother said.
Community Reaction and Protests
Zapata Velasquez was reportedly transferred to Jacksonville before being taken to Krome Detention Center. “Right now, we’re seeing waves and waves of fear throughout the student body because people don’t know what’s going to get them placed in an ICE prison," said Dimitris Liveris, a UF freshman part of the groups planning a protest on campus Wednesday. ICE officials hadn’t confirmed that Zapata Velasquez had been in their custody at Krome. NBC6 reached out for more information.
Conclusion
The incident involving Felipe Zapata Velasquez highlights the complexities and challenges faced by international students in the United States, particularly when it comes to interactions with law enforcement and immigration authorities. The situation has sparked fear and concern among the student body, with many unsure of how such situations might affect them. It also underscores the need for clarity and support for international students navigating the legal and immigration systems.
FAQs
- Q: What was Felipe Zapata Velasquez arrested for?
A: Zapata Velasquez was arrested for driving with a suspended license, among other traffic citations. - Q: What happened to Zapata Velasquez after his arrest?
A: After his arrest, Zapata Velasquez was reportedly taken into ICE custody and later returned to Colombia, though the exact circumstances of his return are not fully detailed. - Q: What has been the reaction to Zapata Velasquez’s situation?
A: The incident has sparked fear among the student body, with plans for protests and calls for support for international students facing similar challenges. - Q: What is the current status of Zapata Velasquez’s immigration and student visa situation?
A: According to his mother, Zapata Velasquez was in the process of renewing his F-1 student visa when the incident occurred.
