Venezuela man detained, beaten by ICE in Gainesville

accessnorthga.com · 8/21/2026

A Venezuela man was allegedly detained and beaten by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on his way to work in Gainesville on Wednesday.24-year-old Mikel Junior Sanchez Ortiz is currently in ICE custody at the Stewart Detention Center in southwest Georgia.His girlfriend, Haklin Olivares, posted a GoFundMe looking to raise $1,600. As of the writing of this article, it has raised $810.Olivares claims the incident happened at 6:15 a.m. in front of the Dollar Tree on Dawsonville Highway. She also says they both have driver's licenses and work permits."They took him, forced open the car door, punched him in the face, handcuffed him, and threw him to the ground," Olivares' GoFundMe says. "They took his cell phone and refused to give it to me; they tried to make me delete the photos I had taken."Olivares added there were six black SUVs.ICE has Sanchez Ortiz listed in custody. Luis Estrada, a former Telemundo reporter who now does independent work, posted eyewitness videos of the alleged incident as well.In it, a man can be seen being snatched from a car at the location Olivares mentioned. She also commented on Estrada's video, saying she was in the car as well.Another eyewitness video posted by Estrada shows blood on the ground in the parking lot.This also comes as members of Congress went to the Stewart Detention Center this week, saying it is denying basic human rights and dignity. They noted its overcrowding, two suicides, and a lack of care, proper food, and clean water.ICE has been contacted, and Access North Georgia is awaiting a response.