Indianapolis, IN
‘Clerical error’ leads to Indy migrant being wrongfully placed in deportation proceedings
Indianapolis immigration arrest video shows federal agents detain men
Viewer discretion advised. This video posted on social media shows the arrest of two Honduran men in Indianapolis by U.S. immigration officers.
A federal immigration judge was visibly irritated after learning a Honduran man had been sitting in an Indiana detention center for the past two months because of a “clerical error.”
Immigration officials have been holding Amner Nunez-Vasquez without bond while trying to fast-track his deportation to Honduras. Nunez-Vasquez is one of the two people who were forcibly removed from their vehicle by federal agents in Indianapolis earlier this year and has been held in the Clay County immigration detention center since.
But Nunez-Vasquez’s attorney, Elisabeth Carlson with ECG Immigration, says he’s being wrongfully detained, doesn’t meet the criteria for expedited removal from the U.S. and should be allowed bond while his immigration case makes its way through the courts.
In April, the Chicago Immigration Court was informed during a bond hearing that Nunez-Vasquez, who has no prior criminal record, was being detained because of a mistake in his booking information.
His case was being reviewed by Judge Samia Naseem, who was appointed to her seat in January 2020 by then-Attorney General William Barr. Since her appointment to the court in 2024, she has heard 634 asylum cases and denied 45% of them, according to TRAC, a nonprofit data research center.
During the hearing, the Department of Homeland Security’s attorney asked the judge to deny bond since the Department of Justice had plans to deport Nunez-Vasquez via expedited removal proceedings, a process that operates outside the court’s jurisdiction under certain circumstances.
DHS contends Nunez-Vasquez meets the criteria because he hasn’t been in the country more than two years. His booking information shows he entered the country illegally in September 2023, they said.
Nunez-Vasquez’s attorney, however, said that date is incorrect and her client has been in the U.S. since September 2022.
After reviewing the information given by both attorneys, Naseem rescheduled Nunez-Vasquez’s hearing and ordered his lawyer to file evidence proving he’d been in the country since 2022 with the court. The judge also said to turn that information over to the DOJ so it could rectify the error.
DOJ’s error still not fixed
On April 28, Nunez-Vasquez’s lawyers appeared in Naseem’s courtroom virtually, expecting to move forward on his bond hearing. However, after reviewing court files, the judge noticed the “clerical error” had not been resolved by the Department of Justice.
Under terse questioning by the judge, Nunez-Vasquez’s lawyer explained she’s made several attempts to reach the Executive Office for Immigration Review to remedy this issue. The attorney filed several documents with the DOJ and the court, including receipts and pay stubs, proving her client has been in the U.S. since at least September 2022.
Naseem reviewed those documents before shifting her irritation toward the DHS attorney, questioning why the error wasn’t fixed.
“It’s clear that there is some kind of error here,” Naseem said.
Naseem ordered the DHS attorney to ensure Executive Office for Immigration Review personnel resolve the issue before their next hearing on May 9.
“It’s a waste of government resources,” Naseem said regarding Nunez-Vasquez’s continued detainment and time spent on court proceedings.
How did Nunez-Vasquez get into ICE Custody?
On Feb. 28, 2025, Nunez-Vasquez and his nephew, Jose Montoya-Lopez, who are both from Honduras, were pulled over by federal agents near the intersection of West 29th Street and Interstate 65 in Indianapolis.
The men were forced out of their vehicle by agents and placed into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. They were booked into the Marion County jail before being sent to the Clay County immigration detention facility in Brazil, Indiana.
The arrest of the two men was captured on camera and shared on social media by a family friend on March 7, 2025.
On Dec. 8, 2023, the Chicago Immigration Court issued a deportation order for Montoya-Lopez, which stemmed from an August 2020 incident when Indianapolis police arrested and preliminarily charged him with battery using a deadly weapon and battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, according to public records.
The state never formally charged Montoya-Lopez with a crime due to a lack of witness cooperation and evidentiary issues, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Either way, Montoya-Lopez was been deported to Honduras.
It was unclear what happened to Montoya-Lopez until March 30, when Univision, an American Spanish-language news broadcaster, met with him in Honduras and captured the moment he returned home to his family.
“For me, it’s a joy that he has returned,” Alejandrina Avila, Montoya-Lopez’s grandmother, told Univision.
Montoya-Lopez also took a moment to reflect on the day he was taken into ICE custody.
“In that moment, I felt afraid because I didn’t know if they were going to shoot us just for simply being from another country,” Montoya-Lopez told Univision.
He explained that he decided to record the interaction, believing that he and his uncle would have the opportunity to plead their case in court. However, due to his pending deportation order, he never had the chance.
Montoya-Lopez’s wife and their 3-year-old daughter remain in the U.S. and are struggling to get by without their sole provider, but she’s glad he’s safe.
“He’s back with his family,” she told IndyStar.
Nunez-Vasquez’s fate remains uncertain.
Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.
The Indianapolis Colts began Phase 1 of their offseason schedule with voluntary work on April 21st, right in the thick of draft week. This period focuses on meetings, strength training, and rehabilitation before the team ramps up its workload for the rest of the summer.
Veterans quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II have been away from the team as they remain on the trade block.
While work thus far has not been open to the media, there will be plenty of opportunity moving forward to get a closer look at the younger, faster Colts.
Here’s a look at the key dates Colts faithful will want to circle on their calendars, along with the media’s scheduled access dates (subject to change at the team’s discretion).
Rookie Minicamp: May 8-9
The 2026 Colts’ draftees get their on-field debut in their team-issued apparel as they take the field alongside undrafted free agents and prospects invited to participate for a try-out.
Most notably, it’ll be interesting to see where the Colts’ first two draft selections — defenders CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy — are being used in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme.
This two-day glorified oreientation of sorts will feature far less team-based activities than it will individual drills and general acclimation to the pros, but it’s still a worthy introduction nonetheless.
This padless, non-contact minicamp is meant to familiarize the amatuers more than it’s meant to baptize them by fire, and head coach Shane Steichen will be sure to deliver that message.
OTA Offseason Workouts: May 26-27, May 29, June 1-2, June 4
This is the third and final phase of the offseason program, the first portion of the offseason where the offense and defense can come together for some 11-on-11 work.
With quarterback Daniel Jones, wide receiver Alec Pierce, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner all set to be sidelined until at least training camp as they rehab their respective injuries, their presence will be greatly missed as far as teambuilding goes. On the flip side, at least those Colts below them on the depth chart will get some valuable run in their time away.
The on-field work will still be a non-contact simulation, though this is the first time when the veterans and the rookies will come together for practice. These workouts are still voluntary for the vets; it won’t truly be a first full look at the projected 2026 roster together, but that comes not too long after OTAs conclude.
Mandatory Minicamp: June 9-11
This will be the biggest offseason event yet, as it will be the closest we get to a real Colts practice. Unlike OTAs, which are voluntary, this minicamp requires that all members of the team be in attendance.
These sessions are more or less like the beginning of the training camp cycle, a period that features a similar practice regimen while still being padless and non-contact.
This will give us a closer look at how rookies are adjusting to the next level after being a month in, as well as provide a sneak peek as to which on-field chemistries are brewing.
Sign Up For the Colts Daily Digest – OnSI’s Indianapolis Colts Newsletter
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The month of May begins with “the greatest spectacle in running.”
Runners from all over gear up for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, with the first race starting at 7:35 a.m. Saturday.
At the Indiana Convention Center on Friday, participants were prepping. They picked out shoes and running gear, and checked out the course map. Organizers estimated over 20,000 runners for the big race day. There’s the 5K run and, of course, the half-marathon that runs through Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This year marks the 50th annual Mini-Marathon. Organizer Linday Labas of the 500 Festival said, “We have five Indy alumni who have done this race all 50 years, so they just keep coming back. They like the other part of the month of May, celebrating and tackling it. I know it looks different now than it was 50 years ago, but they keep coming back, because they love the celebration around Indy Mini.”
Cecilio Martinez has marathon tattoos for all the times he’s run. He ran the Chicago, Berlin, Honolulu and New York City marathons. But, he only has one half-marathon inked on his calf, and that’s Indy’s Mini-Marathon with the 50th anniversary medal. He said this isn’t the first time he’s run the Indy Mini. “I like the course. I like the people. I love Indy Mini.”
Runner Karina McDougle said, “Unlike 2025, the race is going to be chilly with temperatures as low as 39 degrees. “Honestly, because I’ve been running in so much cold weather, I’m pretty used to that, and I would prefer that. I do overheat a lot. It’s great for me, I’m looking for a cool day.”
There are also lots of first-timers running the half-marathon, including Wabash Middle-High School wrestler James Day. “We’re just excited about the experience. They actually talked me into it. I didn’t want to do it originally. I ran one day this week. We’ll see how this goes. I just came back from a wrestling season, though, so I should be in a decent shape.”
At the end of the 13.1 miles, runners will receive a golden medal to mark their accomplishment.
The Indianapolis Colts are in a make-or-break season under longtime general manager Chris Ballard.
After exiting a season that featured yet another mid-season collapse, this regime is holding onto its last remaining breath of hope as it attempts to right the ship entirely. Colts Owner/CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in her post-season press conference that the sense of urgency ‘has never been higher’ for Ballard and Shane Steichen, who is entering his fourth season as the Colts’ head coach.
As a result, this offseason has featured numerous high-floor, low-ceiling decisions for Indianapolis. In an attempt to replicate last year’s early-season success, Ballard’s Colts are once again ‘running it back,’ something that has yet to produce meaningful results in past years.
Ballard’s recent draft has been deemed by some a near-perfect outing considering their situation — not having a first-round pick to bolster their roster — but more than anything, it’s a showing that addressed the team’s weakest position rooms.
From immediate contributors to sleepers and depth pieces, Colts on SI breaks down each draftee’s projected 2026 role.
Immediate Starters
Georgia LB CJ Allen
After trading longtime starter and leader of the defense, linebacker Zaire Franklin, to the Green Bay Packers, Georgia’s CJ Allen will slide in seamlessly as his replacement for the future.
“We’ve liked CJ (Allen) through the whole process,” general manager Chris Ballard began fawning over his newest linebacker in his post-draft press conference. “He stands for all the right stuff. He’s an athletic, fast MIKE. He’ll be a green-dot guy for us from the get-go. I mean, he’s a face of the program type of guy. He’s a really special dude now.”
Still just 21-years old, Allen did not compete at the NFL Scouting Combine as he was rehabbing a knee injury suffered late in his final season at Georgia, but Ballard and Co. are confident in his progress and foresee no setbacks ahead of the season after he worked out a few weeks prior to the NFL Draft.
LSU S A.J. Haulcy
Although the Colts replaced Nick Cross with an aggregate of veteran safeties in free agency to compete for the opening at strong safety, rookie A.J. Haulcy has the inside track at winning the job this summer.
The SEC safety moved up in competition each step of the way (New Mexico, Houston, LSU), starting in 44 of 48 possible games. Haulcy is a ballhawk who logged eight interceptions over the past two seasons, but his versatility to play both in the box and back deep is what’s most intriguing about his game.
Sleepers
Kentucky G Jalen Farmer
The Colts may have confidence in their projected starting five (Raimann, Nelson, Bortolini, Goncalves, Travis), but insurance beyond them was nonexistent entering the NFL Draft.
Kentucky’s Jalen Farmer is set to provide depth across the entire offensive line, while likely being prioritized across the interior as a former guard. He makes the third consecutive installment of fourth-round offensive linemen drafted by Chris Ballard, who are subsequently thrust into the Tony Sparano Jr. school of hard knocks — aka, a recently-established draft-and-stash process that has produced two full-time starters who are still on their rookie contract.
Farmer is projected to immediately become the team’s swing offensive lineman, though don’t count him out from winning the right guard spot from Matt Goncalves.
Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher
Boettcher is set to be a special teams demon as a rookie, but his plus coverage ability bodes well in his favor as he joins a position room that lacks a specialist as such — they do have Jaylon Carlies set to return, who has flashed in coverage, though his early injury history makes it difficult to bet on him moving forward.
The Oregon linebacker should compete for the opening at WILL linebacker alongside veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither. Even if he ultimately loses the job, Boettcher presents a high-floor for a depth piece, and more than likely carves out a role as a sub-package coverage defender.
Kentucky RB Seth McGowan
McGowan had a troubled past early in his college career, causing him to climb back to earn consideration as an NFL prospect. He has since earned the opportunity to not only join an NFL roster but also to truly compete for touches as the Colts have an opening at backup running back under star feature back Jonathan Taylor.
Oklahoma WR Deion Burks
The Colts entered the 2026 NFL Draft with an opening at wide receiver alongside Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, despite adding Nick Westbrook-Ikhine earlier this offseason.
Deion Burks immediately strengthens the depth chart at wide receiver, serving as a potential steal after being selected with one of the last picks in the draft (254th overall). His small build (5’9″, 180 lbs) suggests that he’ll sit directly under Josh Downs for the foreseeable future, but his experience at outside receiver points to a potential rotational role as early as his rookie season.
Long-Term Bets
EDGE George Gumbs Jr.
Indianapolis has been lacking juice at defensive end for far too long, and though Gumbs Jr. doesn’t scream day-one contributor as a former wide receiver turned edge defender, his profile as a long-term project takes no convincing.
It was a bit of a headscratcher to see the Colts finally address edge during the fifth round, though their lack of depth outside of an opening up top needed addressing, and Gumbs Jr. provides just that.
EDGE Caden Curry
Similar to Gumbs Jr., Caden Curry doesn’t project as an immediate force, though he does present a bigger production profile (16.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a senior) that you can see him contributing in a rotational role as a rookie.
Curry may have historically small arms, a threshold that NFL decision-makers often stray away from, but his relentless motor is worth betting on despite his physical limitations.
Sign Up For the Colts Daily Digest – OnSI’s Indianapolis Colts Newsletter
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Detroit, MI3 minutes agoHayley Williams says ‘c u soon’ to Detroit, hinting at upcoming tour
-
San Francisco, CA15 minutes agoSF’s Union Square showing signs of recovery, though some challenges remain
-
Dallas, TX21 minutes agoFC Dallas vs New York Red Bulls: Lineup notes 📝
-
Miami, FL27 minutes agoMercedes’ Kimi Antonelli continues strong form with Miami Grand Prix Pole
-
Boston, MA33 minutes agoWith Jayson Tatum out, Celtics debut brand-new starting lineup in Game 7
-
Denver, CO39 minutes ago2026 Denver Supercross Results
-
Seattle, WA45 minutes agoSeattle Mariners call up pitcher from Double-A
-
San Diego, CA51 minutes agoSan Diego Padres to sell team to investor group led by Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano, who will become the second Latino owner in baseball | Fortune