New Mexico Man’s Fake Immigration Confession Sparks Media Outrage After Arizona Arrest

By Staff Reporter |

A New Mexico man has garnered significant attention after being detained by Arizona immigration enforcement for falsely claiming to be an illegal immigrant. Jose Hermosillo, 19, from Albuquerque, spent nine days in detention until his family provided proof of his U.S. citizenship.

In a sworn affidavit from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Hermosillo asserted he was a Mexican citizen with no legal claim to reside in the United States. He claimed to have entered the U.S. illegally, intending to work in Tucson for the next two decades. DHS clarified that Hermosillo approached Border Patrol in Tucson, making these inaccurate statements voluntarily.

DHS stated, “Mr. Hermosillo’s arrest and detention were a direct result of his own actions and statements.” This incident occurred on April 8, when Hermosillo approached officials and self-identified as a Mexican citizen who had unlawfully entered the country.

Contrarily, Hermosillo’s family told Arizona Public Media that he “got lost” while walking near the Border Patrol facility in Tucson. They maintained that he had informed agents he was a U.S. citizen, disputing the DHS account. At the time, Hermosillo was in Tucson visiting family with his girlfriend and infant child.

Governor Katie Hobbs condemned the detention in a post on X, describing it as “unacceptable” and demanding answers from DHS. “I will be in contact with @DHSgov and expect immediate answers for their wrongful detention of an American citizen,” she wrote.

Attorney General Kris Mayes echoed these sentiments, stating she contacted ICE for clarification regarding the situation. “It is wholly unacceptable to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens,” she asserted.

Mayes’ comments came shortly after DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin detailed Hermosillo’s false confession. The governor’s comments followed the release of the sworn affidavit by the DHS outlining Hermosillo’s misrepresentation of his citizenship.

Last week, a court dismissed Hermosillo’s case without prejudice. His incident was not the only recent case of alleged false confessions regarding immigration status that caught national attention. Two German women claimed they were deported after traveling to Hawaii, intending to continue on to Costa Rica. However, DHS refuted these claims, stating the women were denied entry due to their admission of unlawful intentions to work in the U.S.

DHS condemned the media portrayal of these incidents, stating, “Another false narrative. These travelers weren’t deported—they were denied entry after attempting to enter the U.S. under false pretenses.”