A video showing federal agents forcing two Honduran men from their company van in Indianapolis and detaining them without providing a reason for the traffic stop is sparking questions and conversation about immigration enforcement on social media.
The video was posted Friday afternoon on social media by Jannette Kennedy, a friend of one of the men arrested.
The cellphone video shows the men being confronted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents before the traffic stop escalates into a forceful arrest.
The arrest captured on video
The arrest occurred on Feb. 28 shortly after 9 a.m., while the men were on their way to work when they were pulled over, according to the wife of one of the men arrested.
It’s unclear where the arrest specifically took place within Indianapolis. However, Kennedy said that the arrest happened near the intersection of West 29th Street and Interstate 65. Landmarks observed in the video by IndyStar reporters match those from the area.
The driver of the vehicle started recording a video of the interaction as officers circled the van.
A screenshot of the video purporting to show an interaction between multiple law enforcement agencies and two men in Indianapolis, IN.
When the video begins, an officer wearing a plaid shirt and police vest can be seen standing against the open passenger-side door. His vest indicates that he’s with Enforcement and Removal Operations, a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The officer grips the passenger’s wrist with one hand and points a stun gun at his chest with the other.
In the video, the driver can be heard asking the agents what they’ve done and what’s going on in Spanish.
“Open the door. We are with the police,” the ERO officer responds in Spanish. “Don’t talk.”
Multiple officers command the driver in both English and Spanish to open the door. The driver again asks what they’ve done.
“No, I’m scared. No, I’m scared. No, we’re scared. No, we’re scared. What did we do? I’m scared. What did we do,” he says in Spanish.
“I’ll force you,” the ERO officer says, tucking his stun gun into his vest.
The men continue to ask what they did.
“Give me some ID! What’s your name?” an officer asks in English. “Hey! Look at me!”
The camera turns to face the English-speaking officer, who’s standing next to the driver’s side door. His vest says “POLICE” but does not specify an agency.
IndyStar reached out to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and asked if any officers assisted with the Feb. 28 arrest. The police department said it is unaware of any IMPD officers participating in the arrest.
When the camera turns back around seconds later, the passenger can be seen trying to break free of the hand on his wrist.
“Yeah, he’s fighting,” the officer says, and two more officers come into view behind him. Insignias on their uniforms indicate that one is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the other is with Homeland Security Investigations.
A screenshot of the video purporting to show an interaction between multiple law enforcement agencies and two men in Indianapolis, IN.
The passenger puts his hands up. The EOR officer wraps his hand around his neck, while the ATF officer leans over his shoulder pointing a stun gun.
The three federal agents then force the passenger out of the car by his shoulders and bring him to the ground.
On the other side of the car, a police officer asks the driver to open the door.
The camera turns to show four men restraining the passenger on the sidewalk.
The ATF agent appears at the passenger’s side door and points a weapon at the driver. “Open that door or you’re gonna get tased,” he says.
A screenshot of the video purporting to show an interaction between multiple law enforcement agencies and two men in Indianapolis, IN.
However, the ATF agent’s stun gun can be seen holstered on his person when he makes that statement.
A police officer from an unknown agency pushes the ATF agent aside and lunges into the car, toward the driver. That’s where the video ends.
IndyStar reached out to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to request more information regarding the arrests. IndyStar did not receive a response from the federal agency at the time of reporting.
Where are they now?
According to public records, both men were booked into the Marion County jail before they were transferred to an immigration holding facility in Clay County.
Since their transfer to Clay County, one man has been moved to a second facility in Illinois, according to federal records.
Neither man has been charged with a criminal offense, according to public records.
The passenger had entered the United States via a work permit, but it may have recently expired, his wife told IndyStar.
She didn’t know why either of the men would have been targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or what events may have led up to their arrest.
She hopes her husband can return home, as he’s the sole provider for their family. He was working jobs in Indiana to help pay for treatment for their 3-year-old handicapped daughter, his wife said.
Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis ICE arrest video shows forceful detaining of Honduran men
