ALERT: Border Patrol Detains Venezuelans After Scanning License Plate

A Venezuelan couple was detained in Doral, Florida, after federal agents scanned their vehicle’s license plate. The family claims they committed no traffic violation and that the driver had a pending asylum request.

CBP offered a different version and stated that the man had remained in the United States after his authorization expired. The case illustrates how automatic license plate readers can connect vehicle data with immigration records.

How did the detention in Doral occur?

The incident occurred on August 16, 2026, around 10:00 p.m., in the area of 74th Street. The couple was traveling in a silver Toyota pickup truck with their minor daughter, a U.S. citizen. Lorena García told Univision that agents turned on their lights and ordered them to stop. The woman asserted they were not speeding and had no criminal record.

@quepasaendoral Repost from @quepasaendoral • Woman recounts how her husband was detained by Border Patrol in Doral Lorena García, one of the people involved in the procedure recorded this Sunday in Doral, shared her testimony with Qué Pasa en Doral about what happened and the anguish her family is experiencing following her husband’s detention. According to García’s account, she, her husband, and her daughter were driving through Doral when they were stopped by Border Patrol agents. Lorena asserts they had committed no traffic violation, so they asked the agents what the reason for the stop was. According to her testimony, the officers told them they had scanned the vehicle’s license plate and the system showed they were not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Qué Pasa en Doral has not been able to independently verify that this was the reason for the detention. García recounted that her daughter was asleep in the back of the vehicle and the agents eventually allowed her to remain with the child. Her husband, however, was detained and taken away. According to Lorena, both have valid work permits through 2030 and recently renewed driver’s licenses. Now, with her husband detained, García says she faces days of uncertainty and concern about what may happen, in addition to legal expenses the process could represent. Faced with this situation, she decided to open a GoFundMe campaign to request voluntary support from those willing to help her family, regardless of the contribution amount. «Any help, no matter how small, can make a difference,» is the call she makes while trying to face the coming days with her daughter. Qué Pasa en Doral will continue seeking official information to learn about the circumstances and grounds for this detention. #quepasaendoral #doral #onlyindoral #quepasaendoralnoticias ♬ original sound – Quepasaendoral

According to her account, the agents explained that the license plate scan showed the couple was not a citizen or resident. «They detained us because they scanned our license plate,» García told the outlet. The agents took the man to a migration processing center in Florida. García was able to leave with her daughter after explaining she needed to care for the child. The family stated they planned to voluntarily return to Venezuela in November.

What did CBP officially say about the arrest?

CBP presented a different explanation from the family’s version. A spokesman indicated that the agent stopped the vehicle to conduct an additional immigration investigation. During the intervention, the driver confirmed he was a Venezuelan citizen and had entered through Miami International Airport. Records indicated he entered on June 17, 2018, with a B2 visitor visa.

His authorized stay expired on December 16, 2018, according to the agency. CBP