You Don't Look Like an American

Hector Veloz spent eight months in prison for receiving stolen property and thought he was being released, only to be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be deported to Mexico. Veloz, the son of a Vietnam vet, swore he was an American citizen. But officials refused to believe him. It took him nine months to prove to a judge that he was a citizen. But ICE appealed the decision. All told, Veloz spent 13 months behind bars, in addition to his sentence for receiving stolen property, while trying to prove he was a citizen.

*This article originally misidentified Hector Veloz as a Vietnam veteran.