TALLAHASSEE, Florida - A 20-year-old American citizen was detained in Florida under a controversial state immigration law, sparking renewed debate over the implementation of such measures [1][2].

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, born in Grady County, Georgia, was arrested on Wednesday by Florida Highway Patrol during a traffic stop. He was charged with entering the state illegally as an 'unauthorized alien' under a new Florida anti-immigration law [1][2].

The arrest occurred despite a federal judge having temporarily blocked the implementation of this state law [1]. Lopez-Gomez, who works in construction in Tallahassee, was crossing the Florida state line from his home in Cairo, Georgia, about 45 minutes away [2].

In court, Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans examined Lopez-Gomez's birth certificate, confirming its authenticity. 'In looking at it, and feeling it, and holding it up to the light, the court can clearly see the watermark to show that this is indeed a birth certificate,' Riggans stated [3].

Despite the charge being dropped due to lack of probable cause, Lopez-Gomez remained in custody. The state prosecutor argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over his release because U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had formally requested the jail to hold him [3][4].

After spending a night in jail on a 48-hour ICE hold, Lopez-Gomez was released on Thursday evening [1][2]. Thomas Kennedy, a spokesperson for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, confirmed his release [2].

This incident has reignited discussions about the broader implications of state-level immigration enforcement and its potential impact on U.S. citizens. It also raises questions about the coordination between state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities [1][2][3][4].

As of April 18, 2025, Florida officials have not commented on the specifics of this case or potential procedural changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.