A Virginia resident who has become a naturalized citizen expressed doubts about his vote for President Donald Trump after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this week while they were searching for another individual under a deportation order.
Jensy Machado stated that he is a U.S. citizen and provided NBC 4 Washington with proof of his legal status.
On Wednesday, Machado was en route to work with two other men when ICE agents stopped him near his residence.
Feeling bewildered by the situation, Machado mentioned he was unsure of what was happening and why agents had surrounded his pickup truck.
“They exited the vehicle with their guns drawn and instructed me to ‘turn off the car, hand over the keys, and roll down the window,’” Machado told Telemundo 44’s Rosbelis Quinoñez, who initially reported his account. “It all happened so quickly.”
Machado reported that the agents mentioned the name of a man who was subject to a deportation order—someone who had used Machado’s home address.
Machado clarified that this was not his name, as he didn’t recognize anyone by that name, and offered to present his valid Virginia driver’s license.
“They didn’t request any ID from me,” Machado recounted. “I tried to show the officer my ID, but he insisted I keep my hands up and stay still. Afterward, he commanded me to exit the vehicle and placed handcuffs on me.”
An agent subsequently questioned Machado on how he entered the U.S. and whether he was awaiting a court date or had any pending immigration issues.
“I told him I was an American citizen,” Machado explained. “He exchanged amused glances with his partner, as if to say, can you believe this guy? He even asked the other agent, ‘Do you believe him?’
Machado reported that once he displayed his driver’s license, he was uncuffed and released on the spot.
The two men traveling with him, however, were taken into custody, and he remains unaware of the reason.
Both News4 and Telemundo 44 have reached out to ICE for comment and are awaiting their response.
Machado mentioned that this incident has undermined his confidence in Trump’s immigration policies.
“I supported Trump,” he said. “I voted for him in the last election.”
Machado believed that the Trump administration aimed to target criminals, not to profile every Hispanic individual as if they were all undocumented.
“That’s what’s happening now,” Machado remarked. “They’re merely pursuing Hispanic individuals.”
Immigration attorneys urge residents and citizens to always carry identification.
This article was originally published by NBC 4 Washington.
