Dalton college student released from ICE custody after mistaken arrest

Georgia college student out of ICE custody

A Dalton college student has been reunited with her family after she was detained in ICE custody after a mistaken traffic stop.

DALTON, Ga. - Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a 19-year-old college student from Dalton, was released from ICE custody on Thursday evening, according to her lawyer.

Arias-Cristobal was granted a $1,500 immigration bond after spending more than two weeks in ICE custody following a traffic stop that resulted in a mistaken-identity arrest. 

What they're saying:

Dustin Baxter, her attorney, tells FOX 5 that the bond was paid first thing Thursday morning, but that she was released late in the evening.

"We are glad that she will finally be reunited with her family," he said.

Arias-Cristobal’s case has drawn national attention, sparking protests, and donations to a GoFundMe campaign set up to support her legal costs. Supporters, including community members and families she has worked for as a babysitter, have rallied around her, calling for her immediate release and return home.

Speaking after her release, Arias-Cristobal said she wouldn't wish what happened to her on anyone.

"It's also the conditions - you don't get much privacy. You get screamed at for every little thing. The food is horrible. They don't pay attention to you. You get sick and they don't care," she said. 

The backstory:

Arias-Cristobal, a student at Dalton State College and a Mexican national, was arrested on May 5 for allegedly making an illegal right turn on red and driving without a license. She was initially booked into the Whitfield County Jail before being transferred to the Stewart Detention Center, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in southwest Georgia.

However, just days later, the City of Dalton dropped all charges after reviewing dashcam footage and determining she had been mistakenly identified. Officials confirmed her vehicle was not involved in the traffic violation that led to her arrest.

College student being held by ICE granted bond

A college student in ICE custody expects to return to northwest Georgia. Nineteen-year-old Ximena Cristobal was pulled over in Dalton then jailers found she was in the country illegally. The traffic charges were later dropped. An attorney for the teen says an immigration judge granted her a $1,500 bond.

Despite the dropped charges, Arias-Cristobal remained in ICE custody because of her undocumented status. Her legal team has been advocating for her release through the immigration system since the charges were cleared.

What you can do:

While her release is imminent, Arias-Cristobal still faces immigration proceedings ahead. Her legal team anticipates that she won't appear in immigration court for at least a year due to the significant backlog of federal cases.

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