Australian man Phu Nguyen handcuffed by plain-clothes ICE agents at Las Vegas International airport

An Australian man has been filmed being pushed to the ground and handcuffed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a violent confrontation at Las Vegas airport.

The footage, posted to social media, shows 57-year-old Phu Nguyen being handcuffed by plain-clothes officers as he yells "let me go".

The incident took place in terminal 3 at Harry Reid International Airport but agents abandoned the arrest attempt once it drew the attention of onlookers.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the attempted arrest was made by ICE agents.

"On July 13, ICE attempted to arrest Phu Nguyen, an illegal alien who is an illegal alien and citizen of Australia and was born in Vietnam, at the Las Vegas Airport," it read.

"As officers attempted to arrest Nguyen, a crowd of anti-ICE agitators surrounded officers."

The statement said Mr Nguyen was arrested the following day before boarding his flight departing Los Angeles International Airport.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the ABC it is making urgent enquiries following reports of an Australian citizen detained in the United States.

"The department stands ready to provide consular assistance to any Australian citizen, should it be requested," a spokesperson said.

The DHS said Mr Ngyuen entered the United States legally on a visa in May 2013 with permission to remain in the US until May 2015.

"Nguyen refused to depart in violation of our nation’s laws," the statement read.

"He will receive full due process and remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings."

Mr Nguyen is being detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Centre in California.

The footage showing Mr Nguyen and distressed onlookers has been widely circulated.

"I don't know what they're doing," he screamed out before another woman chased the officers away.