ICE agents leave man with one handcuff at Las Vegas airport

Two plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents attempted to handcuff a man at Terminal 3 of Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on July 13. Video showed the man, later identified as 57-year-old Australian citizen Phu Nguyen, on the ground with one hand behind his back as the agents surrounded him. Nguyen screamed that he did not know what was happening.

After a crowd formed, the agents walked away, leaving Nguyen with one handcuff attached to one arm. Las Vegas police confirmed the two individuals were ICE agents and said a records check found no outstanding warrants on Nguyen. Officers removed the handcuff and notified ICE.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the agents left without arresting Nguyen to de-escalate the situation and for officer safety. DHS identified Nguyen as a citizen of Australia who entered the United States legally on a visa in May 2013 with permission to remain until May 26, 2015. He overstayed that visa.

Nguyen was arrested by ICE on July 14 before his flight left Los Angeles International Airport. He is being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California. DHS stated that Nguyen refused to depart in violation of U.S.

Law and will receive full due process while in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. DHS did not immediately respond to questions about why the agents were in plainclothes or whether they announced themselves as law enforcement. Sen.

Jacky Rosen stated on July 17 that she is demanding answers about the incident. Rosen criticized ICE for acting with impunity in plain clothes without uniforms, body cameras, or identification. Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the ACLU of Nevada, said the footage shows ICE officers covering their faces, accosting a confused man, blocking video recording, and running away.