Singer Island (33404) – Florida Outrage: U.S. Citizen Choked, Tased by FHP & Border Patrol – SOCIAL JUSTICE URGENT

Singer Island (33404) – In a disturbing incident from Palm Beach County, video footage has captured Florida Highway Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol agents violently arresting an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, raising alarms from civil rights advocates across the state. The incident occurred during a traffic stop on May 2, 2025, on Singer Island, when agents pulled over a van containing landscapers, including Kenny Laynez, his mother, and two coworkers—two of whom were undocumented. Despite Laynez repeatedly identifying himself as a U.S. citizen, he was grabbed by the neck, placed in a chokehold, and at one point tased, causing bleeding and visible injuries. Laynez, who recorded the arrest on his phone, was detained for six hours before being released. The nonprofit Guatemalan‑Maya Center called the treatment both traumatic and systemic, saying, “Kenny is a United States citizen,” yet agents reportedly joked about a $30,000 bonus, suggesting enforcement actions were incentivized. The incident has become emblematic of broader concerns extending beyond immigration status—bringing into focus potential racial profiling and violations of constitutional rights in enforcement operations.

Key Facts

• BREAKING: U.S. citizen Kenny Laynez physically restrained by FHP & CBP on Singer Island

• IMPACT: Young man injured, detained six hours despite citizenship

• OFFICIAL SOURCE: “Kenny was treated horribly… he is a United States citizen” – Guatemalan‑Maya Center

• ACTION: Report incident to civil rights groups; document if filming law enforcement

Hyperlocal Impact

1. Precise Location:
   Singer Island (33404) – traffic stop site on central Singer Island, Palm Beach County

2. Community Connection:
   “That’s not how you arrest people.” – witness voice heard in Laynez’s video recording

Local immigrant communities have expressed shock and fear following the violent arrest, with the Guatemalan‑Maya Center stating that actions like this are becoming more frequent. Despite Laynez asserting his citizenship and cooperating with officers, images show agent harassment, including chokeholds and a stun gun deployment that caused visible bleeding. At one point, language captured on Laynez’s phone reveals agents joking about a promised $30,000 bonus, fueling accusations that enforcement operations have become financialized. Advocates argue the case reveals deep flaws: officers disregarded Laynez’s repeated statements, ignored documentation, and ignored a U.S. citizen’s rights. Laynez was held six hours before being released, underscoring how easily lawful citizens can become collateral in immigration enforcement. Civil rights lawyers are now inspecting broader systemic failures—including misidentification by troopers and failure to deescalate by Border Patrol during intra-state traffic stops.

Exclusive Angle

• WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:
  Increasing spotlight on wrongful arrests under Florida’s immigration push, and its impact on Hispanic communities born in the U.S.

Update Log

•  July 25, 2025 08:00 AM EDT: Guatemalan‑Maya Center releases full video of arrest

• July 25, 2025 09:15 AM EDT: Florida civil rights groups demand federal investigation into FHP protocols

This arrest underscores grave concerns around civil liberties and racial profiling in enforcement. As Laynez’s video circulates, Florida residents and civil rights advocates alike are questioning how often lawful citizens are wrongly targeted—and what must be done to protect their rights.