Purple Heart Veteran Says ICE Held Him Eight Hours Without Access to an Attorney

William Vermie, a 39-year-old Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, told ABC News he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis for eight hours on Jan. 13 and was not permitted to speak with an attorney or contact family members during that time.

Vermie, who was wounded while serving in Iraq during a 2006–2007 deployment, says he was "tackled and arrested" while standing on a public sidewalk watching ICE officers detain two young men in his neighborhood.

What Happened During the Arrest

According to Vermie, an agent told him to move back and attempted to push him; when he did not comply, several agents restrained him. "An agent approached me and told me to move back and attempted to push me and I didn’t let him," Vermie told ABC News. "And then him and about three or four other agents started grabbing my limbs and wrestled me down to the ground."

He was transported to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis and held in a cell. Vermie says officers read him his rights and asked whether he wanted to answer questions without a lawyer; he declined and was told he would have an opportunity to contact counsel later. Vermie reports he was never allowed a phone call to an attorney or to any family members, despite a lawyer arranged by his wife attempting to reach him.

"We’re entitled to counsel. It’s part of the Bill of Rights. Even if you are here illegally and you are a foreign national, you are entitled to legal representation," Vermie said. "I don’t know whether they’re incompetent or if they chose to do this, but it’s not good."

Official Statement and Legal Response

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement provided to ABC News said Vermie was arrested on allegations that he assaulted a law enforcement officer. Vermie’s attorney described the arrest as retaliation for peaceful protest, saying, "My client was snatched off the streets by masked ICE agents in retaliation for peacefully protesting."

This account raises questions about detainee access to counsel and the handling of civilian observers during ICE enforcement actions. The dispute between Vermie’s version and the DHS allegation underscores the need for additional details or an official investigation to clarify the circumstances.