Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Rhode Island attempted to detain a man holding his two young children on a residential street early Tuesday morning, according to a video of the encounter and statements from the family involved.

The video, recorded by a bystander, shows two ICE agents confronting the man, identified by his middle name, Sebastian, as he holds his children—one in each arm—while they cry and cling to him. Sebastian, 24, who is originally from Guatemala, had stopped his car after noticing vehicles following him. He then attempted to walk his children home when the agents approached.

In the footage, the agents appear uncertain how to handle the children. One agent is heard saying into a radio, “This gentleman has two kids. You wanna keep him or let him go?” After holding Sebastian on the street for about an hour, the agents ultimately released him without arresting him or taking his children into custody.

Sebastian said in an interview that he is undocumented and has been seeking legal assistance to adjust his immigration status since crossing the U.S. border approximately three years ago. His wife, Petronila, 23, is currently undergoing asylum proceedings. Their two youngest children, pictured in the video, were born in the United States and hold citizenship, while their 5-year-old son was at home preparing for school during the incident.

According to Sebastian, at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, he was driving his children to a babysitter before heading to his construction job when he noticed cars following him through his neighborhood. He accidentally struck a curb while trying to evade the vehicles, damaging his car. After stopping the car, he exited holding both children when ICE agents approached and detained him on the street. Sebastian said the agents at one point escorted him closer to his home, where his wife took the 3-year-old boy. The agents instructed Sebastian to report to ICE the following day, warning that failure to comply would result in an arrest affecting him and his family.

ICE issued a statement denying any arrests, detentions of children, or accidents occurred during the interaction. The agency said Sebastian was directed to pull over safely and that officers briefly spoke with him before departing with necessary paperwork. ICE further dismissed the portrayal of agents attempting to detain Sebastian while he held his children as “fake news.”

The incident has raised concerns about enforcement tactics amid ongoing immigration crackdowns. While federal officials state that enforcement focuses on individuals with criminal records, they acknowledge that anyone residing unlawfully in the country is subject to potential arrest and removal. No criminal record for Sebastian was found in Rhode Island.

In the aftermath, Sebastian said he remained home from work Wednesday, relying on his vehicle, which sustained front-left damage, to commute to construction sites throughout New England. His wife described the children’s distress, noting the 3-year-old stayed close to both parents, while their daughter was unable to sleep and repeatedly sought comfort.