Two men, stopped on suspicion of human trafficking of three migrants, are detained by the U.S. Border Patrol on Feb. 17, 2023, in Hereford. The driver, at center in gray, drove his mother's car from California and stopped to pick up the migrants on the side of the highway in front of a Border Patrol agent, authorities said. At100015 Copy
Boulevard, California – George and Esmeralda Doilez say a routine drive to a dental appointment turned into a frightening encounter with federal agents — one they believe never should have happened.
The Brawley couple, both U.S. citizens, told NBC 7 they were exploring campsites Jacumba and nearby McCain Valley Recreation Area for the first time on Wednesday when they noticed a dark SUV following them. Moments later, the vehicle activated a siren and pulled them over. The SUV, they said, was unmarked.
Border Patrol agents approached wearing masks, according to George, who immediately began to suspect something was wrong. “Criminals do that. Robbers and thieves do that. Kidnappers do that. And that’s what we’re seeing by our own government,” he said. When the agents lowered their masks, Esmeralda began recording the encounter.
In the video, an agent can be heard saying the stop was prompted by the couple’s U-turns and reports of “a known alien out in the area.” George responded that they were avid campers on their way to the dentist and did not consent to any search. The agent replied, “You’re absolutely right you do [have the right to travel], and I actually have the right and authority to stop you.”
Border Patrol has not commented on the stop.
The couple alleges they were racially profiled. “Why are we not allowed to be here? Because we’re not white?” George asked.
The situation escalated when a K-9 unit detected a small amount of legally purchased cannabis in their car. Agents told the couple they now had probable cause for a full search and warned they could be arrested if they did not exit the vehicle. George said he feared for their safety, recalling the thought that “if I fight these guys, I’m going to lose. I could get killed out here.”
After about 30 minutes, the agents released them with a warning, saying they could have seized the vehicle and issued a citation.
The encounter left the couple shaken — and politically disillusioned. Both said they voted for President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2024 but now regret their decision, pointing to what they see as a broken promise to target only “the worst of the worst” in immigration enforcement.
Esmeralda, still emotional, said she feared losing her husband again after a 2022 workplace accident nearly took his life. “We already went through something traumatic… we don’t want to see something else even worse,” she said.
The Doilezes say they are speaking out to warn others. “We can’t let them take our rights,” Esmeralda said. “Then we’re nothing.”
