Shocking footage shows plain-clothed ICE officers violently pinning down an Australian man at Las Vegas Airport as he cries out for help
The shocking moment an Australian citizen was pinned down by US immigration officers on the ground of Las Vegas airport was caught on camera.
A US traveler saw the incident while passing through the third terminal of Harry Reid International Airport on Monday and began recording it.
In the images shared by the eyewitness on social media, the man, identified as 57-year-old Phu Nguyen, shouts, ‘Let me go!’ He can be heard shouting.
“I don’t know what they’re doing,” Mr. Nguyen said.
A plainclothes male Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer pinned Mr. Nguyen’s arm behind his back, while a female agent cuffed his other wrist.
The male agent tried to hide his face when he saw the audience filming.
An airport employee then stepped in front of the camera and two ICE officers quickly walked away, hoods pulled over their faces.
Before the police arrived, Mr. Nguyen was seen standing up and trying to grab his backpack, with the handcuffs still hanging around his wrist.
Australian citizen Phu Nguyen (pictured) was detained by two ICE agents in the middle of Las Vegas international airport on Monday.
A US traveler was passing through the third terminal of Harry Reid International Airport when he saw the incident.
ICE Los Angeles says Mr Nguyen’s (pictured) visa has expired
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told the Daily Mail they were seeking answers regarding the incident.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is conducting an urgent investigation following reports that an Australian citizen has been detained in the United States,” the statement said.
‘The Department stands ready to provide consular assistance to any Australian citizen upon request.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
ICE Los Angeles posted a photo of Mr. Nguyen on its X account on Thursday.
‘Nguyen’s visa expired and he was detained immediately upon landing in Los Angeles, despite the agitators’ attempts to help him evade ICE officers at the Las Vegas airport,’ the statement said.
DHS also confirmed that the attempted arrest was carried out by ICE agents and described Mr Nguyen as an ‘illegal alien and Australian citizen’ born in Vietnam.
“As officers attempted to arrest Nguyen, a mob of anti-ICE agitators surrounded the officers,” the statement said. ABC News in question.
Mr. Nguyen is understood to be in custody at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California (Pictured, ICE agents patrolling at Dulles International Airport in Virginia)
In the video, the man who was only at the scene could be seen approaching ICE agents during the arrest attempt.
As the agents drove away, passengers could be heard yelling at them as a woman followed behind. The police later removed the police who arrived at the scene from the scene.
Mr. Nguyen is understood to be detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California.
DHS said he entered the United States legally with a visa in May 2013 and was authorized to stay until May 2015.
“Nguyen refused to leave, in violation of our nation’s laws,” the statement said.
‘He will receive full due process and remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings.’
