An 18-year-old American citizen secretly recorded his own violent arrest by immigration agents in Florida, capturing Border Patrol officers saying, “You’ve got no rights, you’re a migo, brother,” as his undocumented friends were choked, tasered, and thrown to the ground.
The incident occurred on May 2 in North Palm Beach. Kenny Laynez-Ambrosio was in a van with his mother and two friends when they were pulled over for a suspended license. What began as a routine traffic stop escalated quickly after local police summoned U.S. Border Patrol.
Although Laynez-Ambrosio repeatedly informed officers he was a U.S. citizen and provided valid ID, the agents turned their focus to his two friends, who were undocumented immigrants. One was dragged from the van, slammed face-first onto the pavement, and stunned with a Taser. The other was yanked out and placed in a chokehold. In the video, officers can be heard laughing and speaking casually about the violence.
Laynez-Ambrosio himself was shoved to the ground and had a stun gun pointed at him. He was detained at a Customs and Border Protection station for six hours before being charged with obstruction without violence. He was later sentenced to 10 hours of community service and required to complete a four-hour anger management course.
According to Laynez-Ambrosio, his friends didn’t resist arrest—they simply didn’t speak English well enough to understand the officers’ commands. He believes both have since been released on bail and are awaiting court dates but says he’s struggled to stay in contact with them.
In the footage, officers can be heard discussing the escalating confrontation. “They’re starting to resist more now,” one says. Another responds: “We’re going to end up shooting some of them.” Later, one agent references a potential “$30,000 bonus” and cheers are heard in the background.
The video has raised questions about excessive force and the treatment of citizens during immigration enforcement operations, especially as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to implement its $170 billion immigration plan under the new “Big Beautiful Bill.”
