The Dispute Index

Leo Garcia Venegas

Leo Garcia Venegas (also referred to in court filings as Leonardo Garcia Venegas) is a U.S. citizen and concrete construction worker in Baldwin County, Alabama, born in Florida to Mexican national parents. He is the lead plaintiff in a federal class-action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security over immigration raids at private construction sites.

Also known as Leonardo Garcia Venegas

Statements by Leo Garcia Venegas

Leo Garcia Venegas

Role at the time: Plaintiff; construction worker

Condemned

Statement summary

After the court denied the government's motion to dismiss his lawsuit, plaintiff Leo Garcia Venegas said Americans should not be detained by law enforcement without cause and welcomed the case moving forward.

“Americans cannot be stopped and held by law enforcement when they are doing nothing wrong. I'm glad my case is moving forward, and I hope it can make lasting change.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)US Citizen and Construction Worker Wins First Round in His Lawsuit Over Repeated Unconstitutional Detentions · Institute for Justicefull press release
Why we used this label

Venegas's statement condemns being 'stopped and held' by law enforcement 'when doing nothing wrong,' directly criticizing the DHS detention practices challenged in the case as unjustified.

Read statementDid DHS violate the Fourth Amendment with warrantless immigration raids on Alabama construction sites?

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