The 32-year-old US citizen was released from federal custody Thursday evening after his family told agents were illegally detained during immigration enforcement work in downtown Los Angeles.
Her lawyer said Andrea Veres was detained by an immigration enforcement agent on Tuesday before being released on bonds and was later charged with assaulting a federal officer. The Department of Homeland Security said Veles “forcibly blocked the ice officer,” but her family said it was not.
Estrella Rosas recorded a desperate moment when she saw her sister being arrested and thrown into the ground before being shoved into an unmarked car by an unidentified police officer near Main Street in downtown Los Angeles.
“We dropped my sister down to go to work as usual. Suddenly my mother in the rearview mirror saw how she was on top of her. Essentially, I started dropping her on the floor, handcuffing her and trying to arrest her,” Rosas arrested.
In the video, you can hear Veres’ mother and sister pleading for help. “That’s my sister. They’re taking her. Please help her, someone. She’s a US citizen,” Rosas said.
In the criminal charges, prosecutors alleged that during immigration enforcement Tuesday morning, “Veres stepped into the board’s path and spread one of her arms in an obvious effort to prevent him from arresting the male subject he was chasing, and Berez’s extended arm attacked the officer.”
On a court appearance Thursday, Veres was not in the federal court petition. Velez’s family said they were walking along the way as a marketing designer and nothing wrong.
“Andrea was a victim of excessive use of force by federal agents, and they had no right to stop her, and they had no right to defeat her. What you’re seeing on the video is police brutality,” said Luis Carillo, Beres’ lawyer.
Veres’ sister said they are both US citizens and her sister is a responsible Cal Poli Pomona graduate and has never committed a crime in her life.
“When I saw the video they really upset me. I’m a US citizen, my sister is a US citizen and we’re violating her rights. “I think it’s very unfair to have to go through something like this just because our ethnicity is Hispanic.”
The lawyer said he is exploring all legal options, including civil suits against federal agents.
Veles’ next court appearance is scheduled for July 17th.
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