Public Safety · Miami County
ICE Detains Mentally Ill US Citizen in Indiana for Nearly a Year
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained Phillip James, identified by lawyers and records as a U.S. citizen born in Florida, at the Speedway Slammer facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana. Although James claims to be from Jamaica, documents reviewed by The Associated Press support his birth in the United States and previous possession of a valid U.S. passport. The Department of Homeland Security disputes his citizenship, alleging fraud without providing evidence, while legal experts argue his mental illness led to unreliable self-identification. A federal judge is expected to rule soon on a petition for his release.