A Northern Irish hairdresser says he was wrongfully detained in Florida after an immigration officer told him, “You look Mexican.” Lee Stinton, 45, alleges he spent nearly a month in the Krome Detention Center under overcrowded and inhumane conditions before being deported to the U.K. His story is now raising fresh questions about racial profiling, detainee treatment, and immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Street Stop in Florida
Stinton, from Lisburn, County Antrim, told the Belfast Telegraph that he was walking to work in Florida when an ICE officer stopped him and said, “You look Mexican.” Stinton recalled responding that he was “from Northern Ireland” but was shackled and detained on the spot. He said that during the arrest, the officer looked at his phone’s screensaver, which showed a photo of Stinton with his partner, and remarked: “He looks Haitian. This might be a two-for-one deal today.”
Plans for Life in the U.S.
At the time, Stinton was working as a hairdresser in Key West and living with his partner, DeVaun Davis, with plans to marry. He said he believed he had a legal basis to remain in the U.S. and was pursuing steps to regularize his status. Stinton stressed that he had no criminal record, saying, “I never even had so much as a parking ticket. I was doing everything the U.S. government asked me.” He described his sudden arrest as being “kidnapped off the street.”
Harsh Detention Conditions
Stinton claimed that conditions at Krome Detention Center near Miami were unbearable. He said he was confined in a concrete cell designed for about 10 people but holding more than 100. Food was scarce, showers were limited, and detainees reportedly went without necessary medication. He recounted watching a fellow detainee die after repeatedly begging for heart medicine: “He literally dropped dead of a heart attack in front of my eyes. They didn’t give him the medication he needed.”
Alleged Medical Violations
Stinton also described disturbing medical treatment. He alleged that while shackled to a bed, medical staff forcibly removed his subdermal piercings without his consent. He wore a blue detainee uniform, marking him as low custody, yet he said he endured rough treatment throughout his detention.
Delayed Consular Contact
Another concern Stinton raised was the delay in communication with the British consulate. He said assistance was not provided promptly, leaving him without support as his case moved forward. Eventually, he was deported to London without onward arrangements and returned to Northern Ireland on July 12.
Fallout and Trauma
Stinton has since resumed part-time hairdressing in Lisburn but said the ordeal has left lasting scars. “I went through one of the most unjust and cruel experiences under President Trump’s regime, and it has changed me forever,” he wrote on Instagram. He is now receiving therapy for post-traumatic stress.
Wider Immigration Crackdown
His account comes amid an intensified immigration crackdown in Florida. ICE reported in May that more than 1,100 people were arrested in a single weeklong operation, emphasizing a focus on criminal offenses. Critics say Stinton’s story highlights fears of racial profiling, lack of due process, and poor detainee conditions in expanded enforcement operations.