mainepublic A Portland man is suing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for allegedly violating his civil and constitutional rights when they arrested him in January. His lawyers say the case seeks to strengthen precedent for holding federal agents accountable. Juan Sebastián Carvajal-Muñoz, a civil engineer originally from Colombia, is in the U.S. on a visa for specialized workers and has no criminal record, according to a complaint filed in federal court Tuesday. Carol Garvan with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine is one of the attorneys on the legal team representing Carvajal-Muñoz. Garvan said ICE agents pulled him over on his way to work on Jan. 22, smashed his car window, and put him in an unmarked vehicle. "Even though it was very clear from documentation he offered to them that he has lawful status and there was no reason to stop him," Garvan. Carvajal-Munoz was transferred to Massachusetts, and released that night. Garvan said her client is seeking compensatory and punitive damages under the Maine Civil Rights Act for psychological, physical and economic harm. "This case is an effort to really reestablish this long tradition of being able to use state law as another alternative way to hold federal officers accountable," Garvan said. "Even though I followed all the rules, federal agents targeted me based on my race," Carvajal-Muñoz said in a press release Tuesday. "I hope this case can prevent agents from violating other people’s constitutional rights so the United States can fulfill its promise of being a beacon of freedom, opportunity, and safety for all people.” The lawsuit includes one named ICE agent — Jack Cory Ravencamp — and four unnamed federal agents as defendants. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ✍️+📸 Ari Snider/Maine Public View all 26 comments