Georgia teen says ICE detention was ‘life-altering’ and ‘like a prison’

Geoff Bennett:

The Trump administration is continuing its crackdown on immigration through enforcement raids, arrests and deportations. That has included some teenagers being taken into custody by immigration officials.

Amna Nawaz:

The recent arrest of an 18-year-old in Massachusetts on his way to volleyball practice has sparked protest in his community.

Laura Barron-Lopez has the story of another teenager, this one in Georgia, who was recently released from custody.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Last month in Dalton, Georgia, 19-year-old college student Ximena Arias-Cristobal became the latest target of Trump's agenda. After being pulled over for a traffic violation she didn't commit, Arias-Cristobal was handed over to Immigration Customs Enforcement agents and detained for 17 days.

Her arrests sparked protests and support from the community and the charges were ultimately dropped. Arias-Cristobal, who was brought to the U.S. illegally when she was 4 years old, was released on bond and faces deportation to Mexico.

Ximena joins me now to share her story.

Ximena, thank you so much for talking to us.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal, Detained By ICE After Traffic Stop:

Thank you for having me.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Ximena, take us back to that day. You were being pulled over for a traffic stop, and then you were handed over to immigration agents. What was going through your mind?

Ximena Arias-Cristobal:

I was very fearful of what my future may hold, because I know how immigration looks right now and how even being in college, a 19-year-old that has lived here for 15 years, that really didn't mean much.

I was also very fearful because I knew that my father was already being detained in Stewart Detention Center for the same reason as me a couple weeks before I was taken to Stewart.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

You were detained for a little bit more than two weeks just hours from your home in Dalton.

What was the experience like in detention?

Ximena Arias-Cristobal:

It was very difficult and life-altering. The way you're treated in there is more like you're in a prison, rather than a detention center. I think they strip you away from a lot of your human basic rights. It takes away your dignity.

It's very difficult to stay strong in there.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Like you, your father is also facing deportation, and he was detained, as you said, at the same facility that you were detained at. What is the status of his case? And how is your family coping with the possibility that both you and your father could be deported?

Ximena Arias-Cristobal:

Well, right now, in my dad's case, we're very hopeful that he will possibly be getting his permit here in the next couple of months.

My family is going to counseling. We're trying to do our best to cope with everything that's happening and process the past couple of weeks.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Since you have been released, have you changed any of your day-to-day activities, the things that you would typically do, and is there an environment of fear in the community right now?

Ximena Arias-Cristobal:

Definitely, my life has changed. I can't go back to my usual lifestyle. I run and I also was a very active person, was very social. I would go out with my friends. And that's something I can't do anymore because of that same fear immigrants have to live with now.

Even though I'm already out on bond and I'm starting my process, that doesn't mean that I can be safe and not go back to detention center. In our community, there's a lot of Hispanics, and I think everybody is being super aware and taking precaution. Not a lot of people are going out right now. So more people are living in fear and being more cautious about how they go about their everyday life.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Your community has really rallied around you during this time, including a local Republican state representative, who came out and said that you're not the type of person who should be targeted by ICE.

What has it been like to see the community come out and support you?

Ximena Arias-Cristobal:

It's overwhelming.

I mean, the support I'm getting is absolutely amazing. And they're part of the reason why I'm able to speak to you all and spread awareness and have a voice for millions of people that don't.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Ximena Arias-Cristobal, thank you so much for sharing your story.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal:

Thank you for having me.