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US Citizen Says He Was Arrested In The Keys, Almost Deported To Jamaica

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KEY WEST (CBSMiami/AP) - A Florida Keys is suing the Monroe County Sheriff's Office after he was detained on behalf of federal agents who wanted him deported to Jamaica, even though he is a U.S. citizen.

Peter Brown filed the federal lawsuit on Monday, accusing the Keys agency of violating his constitutional rights.

Brown wasn't deported after a friend provided the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency with proof of his citizenship.

Brown, who resides in the Keys, says he was arrested last April by deputies at the request of ICE agents.

He says he repeatedly told deputies he was a U.S. citizen and offered to produce a birth certificate showing he was born in Philadelphia.

A spokesman for the sheriff's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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