Plainclothes ICE agents left man partially handcuffed at Las Vegas airport after being confronted by onlookers, video shows

Video Captures Plainclothes ICE Agents Leaving Man Handcuffed at Las Vegas Terminal

Plainclothes ICE agents left man partially – According to federal authorities and local police, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in plain clothing departed a Las Vegas airport terminal on Monday while leaving a man partially restrained on the floor. The confrontation occurred at Harry Reid International Airport when bystanders intervened as the agents attempted to take the individual into custody. A recording acquired by CNN reveals a man wearing a light blue polo shirt shouting while being pressed to the ground by the officers. One of his shoes had come off during the struggle, and his bags were knocked aside.

The Confrontation Unfolds

The footage displays the two agents working together to secure the man. One agent is a woman carrying a white crossbody bag, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt with a face mask covering her features. Her partner is a man wearing khaki trousers, a hooded sweatshirt, and a backpack. The video captures onlookers pausing to watch and audibly questioning the federal officers about their actions. As additional travelers gathered around, a uniformed Transportation Security Administration employee positioned herself between the agents and the detained man, establishing an informal boundary.

“Back up, it’s law enforcement,” a TSA officer can be heard saying. “Everyone back up.”

Shortly after creating the perimeter, the ICE officers departed without addressing either the TSA employee managing the crowd or the bystanders who had stepped forward. Several passengers briefly trailed the departing agents, inquiring about their identities. In a separate recording captured during the same incident, members of the public were heard directing questions toward the TSA officer, demanding to know if action would be taken regarding the situation. CNN has contacted the TSA seeking an official response.

What Happened Next

The precise circumstances before and after the recording remain unclear. Las Vegas police reported that the federal agents tried to detain the individual but ultimately left without completing the arrest. Local officers removed the handcuffs from the man’s wrist and informed ICE following a records check that revealed no active warrants against him, according to an agency statement.

The Department of Homeland Security explained that federal officers halted the arrest to “de-escalate the situation and for officer safety” after encountering “a crowd of anti-ICE agitators surrounded officers.” The man, identified as Phu Nguyen, is a 57-year-old Australian citizen who was originally born in Vietnam. DHS confirmed that Nguyen was taken into custody the following day at Los Angeles International Airport.

“Nguyen refused to depart in violation of our nation’s laws. He will receive full due process and remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings,” DHS said in a statement.

Agency records indicate that Nguyen holds a visa that was initially effective for two years but expired back in 2015. He is currently being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. CNN continues to investigate whether Nguyen has secured legal representation for his case.

Passenger Recalls the Incident

Julian Vasquez Heilig, a passenger waiting to board a flight at the Las Vegas airport, witnessed the entire encounter and later conversed with Nguyen while both traveled to Los Angeles. “I thought that he was going to leave on the stretcher because it looked like he had pretty significant injuries, but he didn’t leave on a stretcher,” Vasquez Heilig told CNN.

The two exchanged words while seated in the exit row as Nguyen made his way to his assigned seat. “He said he thought he was going to be OK, but my worry was that when he got off the plane, that ICE would grab him up,” Vasquez Heilig explained. Recalling the terminal scene, Vasquez Heilig noted that a group of Black women were among the first bystanders to assist Nguyen, requesting that the plainclothes ICE agents identify themselves.

“If you’re a human and you see something like that happen and you’re a person of courage, you run towards the danger,” he said, adding it’s what happened in the terminal Monday.

This incident has emerged during a period of intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement operations. Several fatal encounters with agents this year have prompted public questions about which individuals are being targeted. President Donald Trump has stated that the nationwide federal immigration enforcement initiative seeks to remove dangerous criminals from the country.

The Clark County Department of Aviation, which operates the Las Vegas airport, acknowledged the public concern. “We work closely with our federal law enforcement partners to support the safe and secure operation of the airport,” the department stated in a formal response. Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat representing Nevada, publicly criticized the ICE agents’ conduct on X and called for clarification regarding the incident.

“Plain clothes. No uniforms. No body cameras”

The lack of body cameras worn by ICE agents continues to generate additional uncertainty surrounding high-profile encounters, including fatal shootings involving federal immigration officers. As investigations proceed, the public awaits further details about how this incident will be addressed and what measures may be implemented to prevent similar situations in the future.