Latest news with #287(G
Sky News AU
09-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Georgia college student faces deportation after running red light — leading police to discover her entire family has been living illegally in US for years
A Georgia college student faces deportation after she ran a red light, and authorities discovered her entire family has been illegally living in the US for nearly 15 years. Mexican-national Ximena Arias-Cristobal, 19, was pulled over by police in Dalton, Ga. on May 5 when she failed to adhere to a 'no turn on red' sign. Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a Dalton State Community College student, was driving without a driver's license but told officers she had an international driver's license, according to WTVC, citing the arrest report. She admitted that she didn't have the foreign document when Dalton police officers asked her to show it, claiming that her mother had taken it away from her and said she was not supposed to be driving. In 2010, Arias-Cristobal was brought into the US illegally by her parents when she was only 4 years old during the family's move from Mexico City to the Dalton area — over 30 miles from the Tennessee and Georgia border. Because of her non-citizen status, Arias-Cristobal was paying out-of-state tuition for school despite living in the area. The officer who pulled her over attempted to speak to the teen's mom and the owner of the car, but neither of them spoke English, according to the report. Arias-Cristobal was arrested and charged with driving without a valid license and failure to obey traffic control devices. She was transported to the Whitfield County Jail, a partner of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(G) program, used to identify illegal aliens in the country. 'This program operates based on a series of reviews and background checks completed only after an inmate is already arrested for an Offense under Georgia Law,' the jail's operation guide said. Arias-Cristobal was processed through the federal database, which confirmed she wasn't a US citizen. She was brought to ICE's Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., where her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, is also being held. Arias-Tovar was arrested last month when he was pulled over for driving 19 miles over the speed limit, the outlet reported. The father, who owns his own company, was denied proper paperwork to remain in the US. It was not known if he ever applied for citizenship. 'My dad has his own company, and they called a lawyer to see if they could get a job permit or a visa, and they said that they hadn't hit that status to get one yet,' Arias-Cristobal's younger sister told WTVC. Arias-Cristobal was not eligible for the DACA program, having been brought into the country a year after the program ended, according to Hannah Jones, the woman the teen babysat for in the past. Jones created a GoFundMe to raise money for an immigration attorney and bond for the teen. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based immigration attorney Terry Olsen called out the family's detention. 'We do see that ICE is really trying to find any and all methods to say that an international has some way violated the process and their status. What's concerning is that when they are being checked at these checkpoints or at the stops, ICE does not have their entire immigration file in front of them, they're not looking at all of it, and they're just relying on one item. This is a civil rights issue,' Olsen told the outlet. Olsen said Arias-Cristobal's mother will be arrested and deported within a month and her daughters will be taken with her to keep the family together. Originally published as Georgia college student faces deportation after running red light — leading police to discover her entire family has been living illegally in US for years
New York Post
08-05-2025
- New York Post
Georgia college student faces deportation after running red light — police discover her entire family is living illegally in US for years
A Georgia college student faces deportation after she ran a red light, and authorities discovered her entire family has been illegally living in the US for nearly 15 years. Mexican-national Ximena Arias-Cristobal, 19, was pulled over by police in Dalton, Ga. on May 5 when she failed to adhere to a 'no turn on red' sign. Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a Dalton State Community College student, was driving without a driver's license but told officers she had an international driver's license, according to WTVC, citing the arrest report. Advertisement 7 Ximena Arias-Cristobal was arrested for driving without a valid license and failure to obey traffic control devices on May 5, 2025. Whitfield Co. Sheriff's Office She admitted that she didn't have the foreign document when Dalton police officers asked her to show it, claiming that her mother had taken it away from her and said she was not supposed to be driving. In 2010, Arias-Cristobal was brought into the US illegally by her parents when she was only 4 years old during the family's move from Mexico City to the Dalton area — over 30 miles from the Tennessee and Georgia border. Advertisement Because of her non-citizen status, Arias-Cristobal was paying out-of-state tuition for school despite living in the area. The officer who pulled her over attempted to speak to the teen's mom and the owner of the car, but neither of them spoke English, according to the report. Arias-Cristobal was arrested and charged with driving without a valid license and failure to obey traffic control devices. 7 Arias-Cristobal poses with her father Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar after graduating from Dalton High School in May 2024. Hannah Jones Advertisement 7 Arias-Cristobal shows off her diplomas after graduating high school. Hannah Jones She was transported to the Whitfield County Jail, a partner of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(G) program, used to identify illegal aliens in the country. 'This program operates based on a series of reviews and background checks completed only after an inmate is already arrested for an Offense under Georgia Law,' the jail's operation guide said. Arias-Cristobal was processed through the federal database, which confirmed she wasn't a US citizen Advertisement She was brought to ICE's Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., where her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, is also being held. 7 Arias-Cristobal was transported to the Whitfield County Jail, a partner of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(G) program, used to identify illegal aliens in the country. Hannah Jones 7 Arias-Cristobal was brought into the US illegally by her parents when she was only 4 years old in 2010. Hannah Jones Arias-Tovar was arrested last month when he was pulled over for driving 19 miles over the speed limit, the outlet reported. The father, who owns his own company, was denied proper paperwork to remain in the US. It was not known if he ever applied for citizenship. 'My dad has his own company, and they called a lawyer to see if they could get a job permit or a visa, and they said that they hadn't hit that status to get one yet,' Arias-Cristobal's younger sister told WTVC. 7 Arias-Tovar owns his own company and was denied proper paperwork to remain in the US. Hannah Jones Arias-Cristobal was not eligible for the DACA program, having been brought into the country a year after the program ended, according to Hannah Jones, the woman the teen babysat for in the past. Advertisement Jones created a GoFundMe to raise money for an immigration attorney and bond for the teen. Chatanooga, Tennessee-based immigration attorney Terry Olsen called out the family's detention. 7 Arias-Cristobal was not eligible for the DACA program, having been brought into the country a year after the program ended. Hannah Jones Advertisement 'We do see that ICE is really trying to find any and all methods to say that an international has some way violated the process and their status. What's concerning is that when they are being checked at these checkpoints or at the stops, ICE does not have their entire immigration file in front of them, they're not looking at all of it, and they're just relying on one item. This is a civil rights issue,' Olsen told the outlet. Olsen said Arias-Cristobal's mother will be arrested and deported within a month and her daughters will be taken with her to keep the family together.
USA Today
30-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Bay County Sheriff's Office ramps up efforts with ICE after Trump's immigration orders
Bay County Sheriff's Office ramps up efforts with ICE after Trump's immigration orders PANAMA CITY — The Bay County Sheriff's Office confirmed that it's making some changes after President Donald Trump signed executive orders dealing with immigration. One of those executive orders, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," enables state and local law enforcement officers to assist in certain facets of immigration law. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford spoke to the News Herald over the phone to explain some of his office's initiatives to aid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in detaining those in the country illegally. He clarified that his agency has worked with ICE well before Trump's second term, but now it's able to provide extra support. Since the executive orders, BCSO deputies have assisted ICE in the detention of nine people in two operations. It was explained that ICE has been going after those with standing warrants, but often doesn't have the manpower to make arrests in a safe manner. This is when BCSO can supplement ICE teams with deputies as a "force multiplier," Ford said. ICE and the BCSO aren't looking to do blanket arrests of those here illegally, but are specifically going after those wanted for crimes, according to the Sheriff's Office. But Ford added that if they find people without a legal status during the course of an investigation, those people would be subject to the enforcement of immigration law. Outside of the field work supporting ICE, BCSO is also taking measures at the Bay County Jail. If someone is booked and suspected of being here illegally, BCSO will run fingerprints and other relevant information to government agencies who can search their databases. If those agencies tell BCSO that the person is here illegally, the Sheriff's Office will take steps to assist ICE. One of these steps is to do an ICE hold, meaning BCSO holds the person for 48 hours until ICE determines next steps, such as detention or deportation. Sometimes the BCSO will assist in transporting individuals to detention centers in nearby states. As of Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office had done this twice. This applies to those booked into the jail. Ford said someone who is pulled over with a broken tail light is unlikely to be in a situation that ICE is involved in. BCSO is also anticipating the reinstatement of several programs and training it hopes to take part in. One of these is the 287(G) program. There's a variation for jail staff and for regular deputies. In summary, 287(G) would give those who go through the training the ability to handle some facets of immigration enforcement on behalf of ICE. A BCSO spokesperson explained that the agency is typically only able to enforce state and local laws, and having this training would enable deputies to enforce some federal laws on immigration. They wouldn't replace all the roles of ICE agents, but primarily take over some administrative duties that come at the beginning stages of immigration enforcement. The Sheriff's Office had previously participated in the 287(G) program, but this ended under the Obama administration in 2012. Ford said departments enter into signed agreements that need to be approved to participate, and that prior administrations didn't prioritize local immigration enforcement. They also hope to have some staff receive warrant service officer training, which would allow them to serve and execute administrative warrants on noncitizens in the Bay County Jail. While the BCSO ramps up collaboration with ICE, others in Bay County don't currently plan to. Bay District Schools issued a statement on Facebook in response to national concerns ICE may get involved in schools. According to the BDS Facebook Page, ICE and other immigration authorities are not in Bay District Schools. "We have received no directives requiring us to change our policies or procedures," the FB post said. "We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of every student."
