Jose Hermosillo, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen, accused the Department of Homeland Security of detaining him and then producing a false account claiming he told them he was a citizen of Mexico.
In a Monday post on X, DHS argued that Hermosillo was at fault after he was wrongly detained.
"On April 8, Jose Hermosillo approached Border Patrol in Tucson, Arizona, stating he had ILLEGALLY entered the U.S. and identified himself as a Mexican citizen. Border enforcement processed Mr. Hermosillo lawfully," the post said. "Days later, his family presented documents showing proof of U.S. citizenship. The charges were dismissed and he was released."
"Mr. Hermosillo’s arrest and detention were a direct result of his own actions and statements."
Hermosillo appeared to claim he was a Mexican citizen in a transcript produced by DHS.
Judd Legum of Popular Information spoke to Hermosillo and determined that the DHS presented information that was "not true."
The man told Legum he was visiting his girlfriend in Tucson from his home in New Mexico. While there, he was admitted to the hospital for a seizure.
Following his release from the hospital, Hermosillo said he approached a Border Patrol officer for help returning home.
"I saw a car, and I ask[ed] him for help," he recalled.
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According to his account, the officer asked, "You're not from here. Do you have your papers?"
Due to the medical emergency, Hermosillo did not have his state-issued ID but told the officer he was from "New Mexico."
"Don't make me [out] like [I'm] stupid," the officer replied. "I know you're from Mexico."
Hermosillo was arrested and detained for ten days until his family located him and provided proof of citizenship.
"Hermosillo said that he never told the officer that he was born in Mexico, was a citizen of Mexico, or entered the country illegally," Legum reported. "And he would not have said those things because they are not true. He signed the transcript released by DHS because the officer ordered him to 'sign everything.' But Hermosillo did not read it, because he cannot read."
"When I dream, I dream I'm still in there," Hermosillo explained.