MIAMI — A Miami Herald photographer captured a tense encounter in Key Largo on Wednesday as federal immigration agents forcibly removed a woman from her car during a roadside stop — only for officials to determine shortly afterward that she is a U.S. citizen. The incident has intensified public scrutiny of ongoing immigration sweeps in the Florida Keys.
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The stop occurred around 9 a.m. near Pink Plaza at mile marker 103.4, where agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol surrounded a white Toyota Corolla. Video shows officers pulling the woman, who appeared to be wearing medical scrubs, from the vehicle and restraining her on the ground before placing her in a patrol unit.
A US citizen woman screams: "I'm a US citizen. Please help me. Why are you doing this?" Population Control Police manhandled her, brought her to the ground, handcuffed, loaded her into a vehicle. Later released her. Kavanaugh stop or something worse? -12/3/25 pic.twitter.com/izTCIRdzq0
— David J. Bier (@David_J_Bier) December 3, 2025
Federal officials said the woman initially refused to roll down her window or provide identification. After removing her from the vehicle, agents found her driver’s license inside the car and confirmed she is a U.S. citizen. She was released shortly afterward.
Agents staged the operation from Rowell’s Waterfront Park at mile marker 104.5, conducting stops for several hours along U.S. 1. The enforcement activity follows last week’s detention of 12 people during similar operations in the Upper Keys.
Video of the arrest circulated widely on social media, prompting a wave of criticism from users who described the detention as excessive and unjustified. Others defended the agents’ actions, citing the woman’s refusal to comply with instructions.
Federal authorities have not disclosed the criteria used to initiate vehicle stops during the sweep. The Miami Herald was unable to locate the woman following her release.
It’s debatable whether the woman was obligated to comply at all
Please learn the law and your rights. Stand up for Your Rights. If you give them up without a fight, rampant abuse by the police will be sure to follow.
The LAW: You are not required to show identification during an illegal stop, as law enforcement must have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity to lawfully detain or request identification.
If a stop is not based on reasonable suspicion, it is considered unlawful, and you have the right to refuse to provide identification.
Miami Herald is equivalent of Haaretz.
racist garbage officers led by an evil madman
Just show your ID.
People are stubborn for no reason.