DHS Denies allegations of Using Child in arrest of Massachusetts Man
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has strongly refuted accusations that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents utilized a 5-year-old girl as leverage during the arrest of her father in Leominster, Massachusetts. the controversy arose amidst heightened scrutiny of immigration policies enacted during the Trump administration, which were characterized by stricter measures against undocumented immigrants and plans for large-scale deportations, drawing criticism from civil rights organizations.
Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, labeled the claims “a nauseating defamation” in statements to Newsweek, asserting that agents “never used a minor as bait” during the operation.
The accusations stemmed from video released by Telemundo New England showing the girl, who has autism, sitting near a truck while federal agents were conducting the arrest. Her mother alleges in the recording that officers had placed the child near the vehicle during the detention. the father, Edwards Hixto Mejía, reportedly told his wife he suspected he was being followed. Video footage shows agents requesting to see identification from a child at the home’s entrance, a request Mejía refused.
McLaughlin countered these claims, stating Mejía has a history of domestic abuse, including charges of strangulation and vandalism. She further explained that Mejía allegedly disregarded signals to stop and fled to his residence, leaving his daughter inside the vehicle. According to the DHS, this prompted agents to intervene to ensure the child’s safety. Agents subsequently contacted local police to report the alleged abandonment. McLaughlin also stated Mejía made an obscene gesture towards authorities while evading capture.
Two days after the initial operation, Mejía was re-arrested and transferred to a federal detention center, where he remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings. DHS records indicate Mejía entered the United States illegally in 2000 and has resided in the country for 25 years, building a family with two U.S. citizen children.
Mejía’s wife, speaking anonymously to NBC Boston, stated agents returned to their home and arrested him from the back of the property. She has expressed fear for her family’s safety, stating in a GoFundMe campaign that “Our house is surrounded” and she is afraid to take her children to school or medical appointments.
As of this report, Mejía is being held at the Plymouth county Correctional Center while his deportation process is finalized. The case continues to fuel debate regarding ICE tactics and their impact on immigrant families.
