Federal immigration authorities briefly detained a U.S. citizen outside the Cambridge District Court on Friday morning in what officials are calling a case of mistaken identity.
Boston 25 News cameras captured the moment as agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Hugo Monteiro, a 31-year-old man from Revere, Massachusetts, outside the courthouse. Monteiro, a Brazilian American, said he was escorting a client to court when ICE officers approached and took him into custody.
According to Monteiro, agents handcuffed him and placed him into their vehicle before he was able to provide documentation proving his identity and citizenship.
“I showed them my ID, my passport, then they confirmed it was not me,” Monteiro told reporters following the incident.
Monteiro said the entire ordeal unfolded quickly and ended once the agents realized they had apprehended the wrong individual. Despite the error, he expressed no anger toward the officers and stated his continued support for the agency’s mission.
“They do their job and I support whatever they are doing,” Monteiro said. “I voted for Trump and there are a lot of bad people in this country that don’t deserve to be here.”
Monteiro, who became a U.S. citizen in 2020, said he did not harbor resentment over the incident and continues to believe that ICE is necessary for enforcing immigration laws. His comments reflect a nuanced view, with his support for law enforcement agencies remaining firm even in the face of personal inconvenience.
The incident has raised questions about identification procedures used by federal agents during arrests and detainments. Advocacy groups have long voiced concerns about ICE’s operations in and around courthouses, arguing that these tactics can have a chilling effect on immigrant communities and create fear among those attempting to navigate the legal system.
Boston 25 News reached out to ICE for comment regarding Monteiro’s detainment. In a brief response, the agency confirmed that it is reviewing the matter.
The misidentification adds to a growing number of documented instances where American citizens have been mistakenly detained by immigration authorities. While such errors are rare, they underscore the challenges faced by federal agencies tasked with enforcing immigration laws in communities across the country.
Monteiro’s case has drawn attention partly because of his open support for the agency that mistakenly detained him. His response stands in contrast to others who have experienced wrongful detainment and reacted with criticism or legal action.
As the video of Monteiro’s brief detainment continues to circulate, questions remain about how ICE will address this latest incident. For now, Monteiro is back to his regular life and says the experience, while surprising, has not changed his beliefs.
“I still believe they’re doing what’s right,” he said.
ICE has not yet issued a full statement on the case but noted that they are conducting an internal review.
