ICE detains Passaic man - a U.S. citizen - for allegedly provoking agents
Brandon Domena has lived in Passaic County his entire life. More recently, he has seen ICE agents in his neighborhood - President Street and Lexington Ave in Passaic.
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A Passaic County man says he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for hours, despite being a legal citizen. The Department of Homeland Security says he provoked officers.
Brandon Domena has lived in Passaic County his entire life. More recently, he has seen ICE agents in his neighborhood - President Street and Lexington Ave in Passaic.
“Nobody feels safe with them here," said Domena. "They came and threw me on the ground right here, and threw me in the back of their vehicle. All these bruises and marks on my hands.”
On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security says ICE agents were arresting a Mexican person living in America illegally, who was wanted for domestic violence. Domena and his family were in the crowd of people watching nearby when a confrontation began between a masked agent and Domena.
“He said some harsh words," Domena said. "I said some harsh words back, as grown men, but it should have never gotten that physical.”
DHS says a man spit toward one of the agents, who they arrested for potential charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers. DHS says the man kicked an officer.
"I did not spit directly at nobody, as you see in the footage," Domena said. "Me kicking an officer, I don’t recall that. All I know is I'm a U.S. citizen. I have the right to stand up for anybody I want, and a U.S. citizen shouldn't be thrown on the ground without being ID'ed.”
Domena says he thinks he was taken to Delaney Hall in Newark, but he was not told. He said he was deprived of water, a restroom, medical attention and a phone call during the five hours. He returned home later the same day and says the agent apologized to him.
“Every week, they are arresting a U.S. citizen," Domena said. "This has to be talked about more. This has to be investigated.”
At this time, Domena has not been charged with a crime. He has hired a lawyer.
