"The lawsuit filed on Chidozie Wilson Okeke's behalf alleges masked ICE agents "unlawfully, brutally and violently detained" him as he was entering his parked vehicle Saturday night. The suit, filed on Wednesday, accuses the federal officers of beating and "tasing" him. After the arrest, federal agents transported Okeke, who is accused of overstaying a tourist visa, to nearby Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where hundreds of protesters massed outside and some later attempted to block an unmarked government vehicle with Okeke inside from leaving."
"The petition asks a judge to order Okeke's immediate release, citing due process violations. Okeke is being held at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The petition further asks that the federal government be barred from relocating Okeke. It alleges the ICE agents lacked probable cause and a proper warrant for the arrest."
"A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement that the officers acted properly and denied that they beat or used a Taser on Okeke. The spokesperson said Okeke refused to comply with the officers' demands to leave his car and "weaponized his vehicle" to try to hit the officers. The spokesperson also alleged that Okeke tried to punch and elbow the officers. The statement said the officers responded with the minimum force necessary to make the arrest."
"The officers transported Okeke to the hospital after he requested medical treatment, the spokesperson said. Okeke's initial arrest and then the chaotic scene outside the hospital were captured on videos taken by bystanders and freelance photographers, and posted on social media. Video of the street arrest, shared by the nonprofit New York Immigration Coalition, shows federal officers pulling a man"
A petition filed in federal court seeks to overturn the arrest and detention of Chidozie Wilson Okeke, a Nigerian immigrant arrested by ICE agents in Bushwick. The petition alleges masked agents unlawfully, brutally, and violently detained him while he was entering his parked vehicle, including beating and tasing. After the arrest, Okeke was taken to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where protesters gathered and some attempted to block an unmarked government vehicle leaving with him inside. The petition requests immediate release, bars relocation, and claims due process violations, lack of probable cause, and absence of a proper warrant. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson denies the allegations, saying officers used minimum force after Okeke refused to comply and allegedly tried to attack them, and that he was transported for medical treatment after requesting it.
#ice-arrest #due-process-challenge #use-of-force-allegations #immigration-detention #federal-court-petition
Read at Gothamist
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