ICE agents tackle man at Las Vegas airport, prompting probe

A confrontation between plainclothes federal immigration agents and a traveler at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport on Monday, July 13, 2026, has sparked public outcry and demands for an investigation from elected officials. Videos circulating online show two agents tackling, handcuffing, and attempting to detain a man before walking away from the scene after bystanders began recording.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. in Terminal 3. Footage depicts a distressed man, later identified as 57-year-old Phu Nguyen, lying on the floor shouting as a man and a masked woman in plain clothes restrained him. Witnesses reported that the agents abandoned the arrest attempt upon realizing they were being filmed, leaving Nguyen with a single handcuff still attached to his wrist. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded to a disturbance call and found Nguyen with the restraint. Officers conducted a records check, found no outstanding warrants, removed the handcuff, and notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Nguyen is an Australian citizen who had overstayed his visa. Officials stated that ICE decided not to proceed with...