Federal Agents Detain Woman During Key Largo Traffic Stop, Video Shows
Federal agents stopped a vehicle in Key Largo on December 3, pulled a woman from the car, and briefly detained her while Monroe County deputies managed traffic. Cellphone video of the encounter and conflicting explanations from authorities have heightened local concern about transparency and the scope of federal enforcement in the Upper Keys.
On December 3 federal agents stopped a vehicle near the Pink Plaza at Mile Marker 103.4 in Key Largo, pulled a woman from the car and briefly detained her, according to cellphone footage and eyewitness accounts. A reporter on scene recorded video that shows the woman screaming as agents, many wearing facemasks, forced her from the vehicle. In the recording she is heard saying, "I’m a U.S. citizen. Please help me! This is unfair. Why are you doing this to me?" Agents placed handcuffs on the woman and put her into an agency patrol vehicle. She was released after a short time according to on scene accounts.
Witnesses and reporters described a coordinated federal presence involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol officers, while deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office helped manage traffic. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were present to maintain traffic and order. Federal authorities later said the stop involved a woman who refused to show identification and that agents subsequently found and confirmed her identity inside the vehicle.
Requests for official comment to ICE, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security were not answered at the time of publication. Local reporters noted that similar immigration enforcement activity has been visible in the Upper Keys in recent weeks, a pattern that has drawn increased scrutiny from residents and advocates.
For Monroe County residents the incident raises questions about the boundary between federal enforcement activity and local public safety responsibilities, and about how information is shared when civilians are stopped and briefly detained. Such encounters can affect community trust in law enforcement and can create fear among residents who rely on everyday travel for work and family obligations. Local elected officials and law enforcement leaders face pressure to clarify protocols for coordination with federal agencies and to provide transparent accounts of stops that occur on county roadways.
As federal and county actors respond, residents seeking clarity can expect follow up from local offices and community groups monitoring enforcement patterns and advocating for clear accountability measures.
