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Community rallies for local family facing deportation

Community members unite in a rally advocating for the release of a local family facing deportation.

News Summary

Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a 19-year-old, and her father are in ICE custody after separate traffic stops in Dalton, Georgia. Their arrests have sparked community support and fundraising efforts, with hopes for a bond hearing due to Ximena’s clean record. The family’s plight highlights the emotional struggles and broader immigration issues they face. Community leaders are advocating for their release, emphasizing solidarity with immigrant families amid heightened deportation policies.

Dalton, Georgia – A local teenager, Ximena Arias-Cristobal, aged 19, and her father, 43-year-old Arias Tovar, are currently in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following their arrests during separate traffic stops in Dalton. Ximena’s arrest occurred on Monday when she was pulled over for not having a valid driver’s license while making an improper right turn at an intersection. Community members have since rallied together to support the family as they face the threat of deportation.

Ximena’s attorney, Dustin Baxter, is actively working to secure a bond hearing for her, expressing optimism that she may be granted a bond due to her clean criminal record and the extensive community support she is receiving. Additionally, both Ximena and her father are undocumented immigrants. Ximena arrived in the United States from Mexico City at the age of four.

The family’s situation gained significant local attention, leading to a rally on Buford Highway where participants demonstrated their solidarity through signs and chants advocating for Ximena’s and her father’s release. The family has connections to the Dalton community; Ximena is a recent graduate of Dalton High School, where she participated in athletics, and is currently attending Dalton State University. She has a younger sister who has spoken about the emotional distress the family is under due to their father’s absence.

Both Ximena and her father were arrested during traffic stops — while Ximena was stopped for her lack of a valid license, her father was arrested for speeding and also not having a license. The Whitfield County Jail has an ICE enforcement model agreement, which allows the facility to report undocumented immigrants to ICE, contributing to the family’s current predicament.

Community members have shown their support through various means, raising over $65,000 via a GoFundMe page aimed at helping Ximena with legal representation. This financial support reflects the widespread concern regarding the family’s fate amid increasing deportation efforts by the government. The Department of Homeland Security noted that Tovar had previous opportunities to pursue legal citizenship but did not follow through. Efforts to obtain legal status have been challenging, especially since the DACA program, which could have offered Ximena protection from deportation, closed to new applicants before she was able to register.

In the midst of this crisis, Georgia House Representative Kasey Carpenter has voiced support for Ximena by writing a letter to the judge advocating for her character. This aligns with a broader community sentiment that emphasizes the importance of standing in solidarity with immigrant families amid escalating deportation policies.

The emotional toll on Ximena’s family has been significant, particularly for her younger sister, who has articulated the challenges they face without their father. The ICE detention center where both Ximena and Tovar are held is approximately 3.5 hours from their home, complicating visits and communications. The family’s separation highlights the broader issues surrounding immigration policies and their impacts on local communities.

As this situation continues to unfold, community leaders remain hopeful for a positive resolution that would allow Ximena and her father to return home to their family and community.