Andrew Wimer
Andrew Wimer · May 22, 2026
construction worker holding driver's license
Leo Garcia Venegas is a U.S. citizen who works in construction in Baldwin County, Alabama. He has been detained multiple times during immigration raids on private property.

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DATE/TIME:

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 10:30 a.m. CDT

PLACE:

U.S. District Court
Southern District of Alabama
155 Saint Joseph St.
Mobile, AL 36602

SUMMARY:

The U.S. District Court in Mobile will hold a hearing Wednesday morning to consider whether to grant an injunction against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Baldwin County constructor worker Leo Garcia Venegas. Leo has been repeatedly detained by immigration officers despite being a U.S. citizen with an Alabama issued REAL ID. His class action lawsuit was filed by the Institute for Justice (IJ).

Leo was recently detained for a third time. In May and June of last year, Leo was detained by officers who entered his private job sites without warrants. Both times, officers refused to believe Leo was a citizen or recognize his REAL ID as proof of legal status. Then, just this month, officers followed Leo home and confronted him in his driveway. Even though Leo was trying to show officers his REAL ID, he was ripped from his car, tackled to the ground, handcuffed, shackled, and locked in the back of a car. Full story available in this court filing: https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Leo-3rd-Detention-Dec.pdf. 

Photos and video of Leo’s detentions are available HERE.

The lawsuit seeks to stop DHS officers from entering private property without warrants, to stop detaining workers based only on a demographic profile, and to immediately let workers go as soon as they present evidence of citizenship or legal presence.

Yesterday, Chief District Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock issued an order determining that Leo has legal standing to challenge DHS’s policies. At the hearing Wednesday, Leo and others similarly abused by immigration officers will testify. Philip Lavoie, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the Mobile, Alabama DHS Office, will testify on behalf of the government.

Media can witness the hearing in the courtroom, but the proceedings will not be streamed. Cell phones and other electronic devices are not allowed inside the courtroom. Leo and his attorneys will be available for interviews following the hearing.

Please contact Andrew Wimer, IJ Media Relations Director, with further questions or to set up remote interviews.

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