The Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says its officers attempted to arrest a man at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas earlier this week but were forced to drop their plan after a crowd gathered around the scene.
The development concerned the officers regarding their safety, prompting them to leave the premises.
They Reportedly Left a Handcuff on Him
The incident unfolded at the start of the week, on July 13, and was captured on video by a filmmaker who was passing through the terminal after working on a documentary.
Chris Motley shard his footage on social media and, as expected, the video quickly ignited nationwide talks. The images showed two individuals wearing civilian clothes, namely, black and gray hoodies, black leggings, and a blue medical mask.
The two were filmed trying to restrain a man in the airport. In the video, the man, later identified by ICE as 57-year-old Vietnamese national Phu Nguyen, can be seen on the ground and heard shouting, as bystanders gather around the scene.
Motley is heard repeatedly asking, “What’s going on?”. Shortly after, the two ICE agents stoped the arrest procedure and left the area.
According to ICE, the officers decided to put an end to the arrest attempt in order “to de-escalate the situation and for officer safety” after they were surrounded by members of the public. Nguyen was reportedly left with a handcuff attached to his left wrist at the time the officers left.
He Refused to Leave the US
ICE said Nguyen legally entered the United States on May 27, 2013, but remained in the country after his visa expired on May 26, 2015.
The agency alleges that Nguyen “refused to depart in violation of our nation’s laws” and confirmed that he was taken into custody the following day at Los Angeles International Airport while attempting to board a flight.
“Nguyen will receive full due process and remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings,” ICE said in a statement.
The incident has generated widespread attention online, with many social media users questioning why the officers involved were dressed in civilian clothing.