Summary
The Department of Homeland Security denied claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) used a 5-year-old autistic girl to force her father's arrest in Massachusetts. ICE stated that the girl's father, Edwards Hip Mejia, ignored police signals, fled to his house, and left the child in the car. Mejia was later arrested and is in custody pending deportation proceedings.
Key Facts
- DHS denies that ICE used a 5-year-old girl as bait to arrest her father.
- The incident occurred outside a home in Leominster, Massachusetts.
- Footage shows the girl sitting beside an SUV with ICE agents nearby.
- The child's father, Edwards Hip Mejia, has prior arrests for domestic abuse, strangulation, and vandalism.
- Mejia originally entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2000 and has lived in the country for 25 years.
- DHS claims Mejia ignored police lights, fled to his house, and left the child in the car.
- Mejia is currently in ICE custody awaiting removal proceedings.
