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

Plainclothes ICE Agents Left Man Partially Handcuffed at Las Vegas Airport

Plainclothes ICE agents left man partially handcuffed at Harry Reid International Airport on Monday after onlookers confronted the officers during a detention attempt. Video footage obtained by CNN shows two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in casual clothing struggling with a traveler while bystanders watched. The agents eventually departed, leaving the man still partially restrained on the terminal floor. A recording captures the individual in a light blue polo shirt shouting as officers pressed him downward, with one shoe having come off during the encounter.

Witnesses Intervene as Situation Develops

The video reveals two plainclothes officers involved in the incident. One officer is a woman wearing a hooded sweatshirt and carrying a white crossbody bag, while her partner is a man in khaki trousers with a backpack. Passengers can be heard questioning the officers’ actions as handcuffs were being secured. A uniformed TSA employee stepped between the agents and the detained man, creating an informal barrier while telling onlookers to back up.

“Back up, it’s law enforcement,” a TSA officer is heard saying in the video. “Everyone back up.”

The plainclothes ICE agents walked away without addressing the TSA employee or the bystanders who had stepped in. Some passengers briefly followed the departing officers, asking about their identities. In a separate clip, travelers were recorded demanding to know if action would follow regarding the incident. CNN has contacted the TSA for an official response to the situation.

Investigation Shows No Active Warrants

Las Vegas police reported that ICE officers attempted to detain the man but ultimately left without completing the arrest. Officers removed the handcuffs from the man’s wrist and informed ICE that a records search revealed no active warrants against him. The Department of Homeland Security explained that federal officers halted the arrest to de-escalate the situation and ensure officer safety after encountering what they described as a crowd of anti-ICE agitators.

The man, identified as Phu Nguyen, is a 57-year-old Australian citizen originally from Vietnam. According to the Department of Homeland Security, he was taken into custody the following day at Los Angeles International Airport. Agency records indicate Nguyen possessed a visa valid for two years, though it lapsed in 2015. He is currently being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center while CNN investigates whether he has secured legal representation.

“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.

Passenger Recalls the Incident

Julian Vasquez Heilig, a passenger waiting to board at the Las Vegas airport, witnessed the entire incident and later conversed with Nguyen during their shared journey to Los Angeles. He noted that a group of Black women were among the first bystanders to assist Nguyen, requesting that the plainclothes ICE officers identify themselves. The passenger recalled encouraging words exchanged while seated in the exit row as Nguyen made his way to his assigned seat.

“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 episode occurred during a period of intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement activities. Multiple fatal encounters with agents throughout the year have prompted public questions regarding which individuals are being targeted. President Donald Trump has stated that the expanded federal immigration enforcement initiative seeks to remove dangerous criminals from the United States. The Clark County Department of Aviation acknowledged the public concern in a statement, noting they work closely with federal law enforcement partners.