U.S. Citizen Says ICE Detained Him for Nearly Two Hours Despite Proof of Citizenship

Houston, TX — A Texas man says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wrongfully detained him for almost two hours, even after he showed valid identification and told them he was born in the United States.

Miguel Angel Ponce Jr., 33, says the encounter happened early Wednesday morning while he was on his way to work. According to Ponce, ICE agents approached his vehicle and asked for identification.

“Bro, I was born in College Station. There’s no way — what is going on?” Ponce recalled telling the officers.

After handing over his ID, Ponce says the situation escalated quickly.

“They told me to get out of the car,” he said. “I asked why, but they just repeated, ‘Get out.’ Then they put me in handcuffs.”

Ponce says the agents claimed he had an outstanding deportation order. Despite his protests and proof of birth in Texas, the agents allegedly insisted he was the person they were looking for.

“I pretty much felt kidnapped,” Ponce said. “They put me in the back seat, took me to another location, and I couldn’t even call my wife.”

Ponce denies ever having prior contact with ICE and says he has no immigration violations. The incident, he says, left him shaken and frustrated.

ICE has not publicly commented on the case, and it is unclear whether the agency has acknowledged any mistake.

The incident adds to growing concerns from civil rights advocates about mistaken detentions of U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement operations, particularly in Texas and other states with aggressive ICE activity.