U.S. Citizens Reportedly Detained After Being Overheard Speaking Spanish

A toddler, his mother, and his grandmother—all American citizens—were detained and taken to an immigration detention center by U.S. officials in Milwaukee after they were overheard speaking Spanish, according to a Monday report by Telemundo Puerto Rico. Speaking to Entérate host Milly Méndez, a member of their family said they were taken into custody while shopping at a department store and were denied the chance to speak to officers until they arrived at the detention center. “My sister, speaking in English, explained that, not only are they American citizens, but that they are from Puerto Rico, they were born in Puerto Rico,” the family member—who spoke anonymously for fear of the family’s situation—said. After the mother produced identification documents including birth certificates, the family member said officials became apologetic. “I’m so sorry,” one told them. The family then had to call and pay for a ride back from the facility, their relative said. “Puerto Ricans have been detained by mistake for simply speaking Spanish,” Méndez observed. Darryl Morin, the national president of Hispanic advocacy group Forward Latino, said Monday that his group had confirmed three cases of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Wisconsin. It was not clear which agency detained the family in Milwaukee—ICE’s current operations have received support from federal agencies including the U.S. Marshals, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.