UF Student Detained by ICE After Traffic Stop Sparks Outrage
The recent case of a UF student detained by ICE is drawing national attention. Felipe Zapata Velásquez, a 27-year-old University of Florida student, was pulled over in Gainesville for expired tags. What followed was an unexpected ICE detention that has sparked backlash from lawmakers, immigrant advocates, and his family.
Arrest After Traffic Violation
On March 28, Gainesville police arrested Zapata Velásquez for driving with an expired driver’s license and registration tag. The third-year international student, who transferred to UF from Santa Fe College in 2023, is pursuing a degree in food and resource economics.
According to his mother, Claudia Velásquez, he was actively working to renew his documentation and had been processing the I-20 form needed to apply for a Florida license.
What began as a minor traffic violation quickly escalated. After his arrest, ICE transported Zapata to Jacksonville and then to Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade County.
Detained Without Legal Representation
Zapata’s family says no one has seen or heard from him since April 1, when he arrived at Krome. ICE’s public detainee locator does not list his name, raising further concern.
His mother claims officials allegedly pressured him to sign a self-deportation agreement without giving him access to an immigration attorney — a decision that could permanently damage his immigration status.
“ICE is treating my son like a criminal and he is not,” she told Radio W in Colombia. “He deserves to finish his studies and return home with dignity.”
Lawmakers and Advocates Respond
The case has triggered political backlash. Florida House Representative Yvonne Hinson issued a public statement calling the detention “outlandish and quite alarming.”
“Why not give a ticket?” she asked. “To be detained for such an offense is disproportionate.”
Hinson emphasized that immigrants, particularly students on legal visas, face growing threats. She warned that this situation reflects a broader crackdown under recent federal immigration policies.
“Immigrants are under attack now more than ever,” she said. “We must speak up and not allow this to continue.”
Community and Legal Questions Remain
Zapata’s story has raised important legal and ethical questions about how noncriminal visa violations are handled. Immigration attorneys and student rights groups are closely watching the case, particularly due to the lack of due process and his disappearance from ICE records.
His current legal status is unclear, and ICE has yet to respond to media inquiries.
As Zapata’s supporters call for transparency and justice, his future — and his right to complete his education — hang in limbo.
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