Willy Wender Aceituno voted for Donald Trump. He said he believed in the president's promises on border security and the economy. Four months after Trump returned to the White House, armed and masked federal agents smashed the window of Aceituno's truck, dragged him out over broken glass, handcuffed him, and drove him around Charlotte before confirming—for the second time—that he was a naturalised American citizen with no criminal record. 'It was the worst decision of my life,' Aceituno said of his vote for Trump.
On 3 March 2026, Aceituno filed federal damages claims against the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection, under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The claims were submitted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and Tin Fulton Walker & Owen. Aceituno, 46, a naturalised citizen from Honduras, is seeking $1.25 million (approximately £923,000) in damages.
