North Carolina man sues federal government after immigration agents detained and released him

A North Carolina resident, identified as a landscaper, has lodged a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act alleging that Border Patrol agents unlawfully arrested him during a construction site raid on November 18, 2025, despite his presentation of a valid REAL ID. Video captured by an 18-year-old bystander shows officers uncuffing the man in a wooded area, throwing his ID onto the ground, and driving off in an SUV. After confirming his citizenship, the agents left him on the side of Chapel Hill Road and NE Maynard Road.

The ACLU of North Carolina is representing him and has filed the claim as a precursor to a potential lawsuit. This filing joins a class action brought by the ACLU that challenges warrantless immigration stops in the state, and it adds to a series of similar claims filed across multiple states.