The Department of Homeland Security is standing its ground after facing backlash for the arrest and potential deportation of a 19-year-old Mexican National, who faced charges after she illegally turned right on red while driving without a license in Dalton, Georgia.
For context, according to press accounts, Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a college student living in Georgia and attending Dalton State College, was arrested on May 5, 2025, with police reports confirming that Arias-Cristobal is a Mexican national who may be deported after being caught driving illegally. Arias-Cristobal is now reportedly in ICE custody.
According to coverage from Newsweek, Arias-Cristobal is currently being held in Stewart Detention Center, a facility run by the private correctional institutions company CoreCivic. Brian Todd, a CoreCivic spokesperson, told Newsweek, “CoreCivic plays a limited but important role in America’s immigration system, and we care deeply about treating people in our facilities humanely and providing them with a safe, clean and dignified environment as they prepare for the next steps in their immigration process.”
In addition, Fox News confirmed that Arias-Cristobal’s father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, is also being held at Stewart Detention Center following an arrest for speeding and unlicensed driving, with DHS reportedly confirming that Arias-Tovar confessed to being an illegal immigrant. Fox reported that DHS said, “The family will be able to return to Mexico together. Mr. Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship. He chose not to.” A DHS spokesperson added, “We are not ignoring the rule of law.”
Following Ximena Arias-Cristobal’s arrest, a family friend, Hannah Jones, told Newsweek that Arias-Cristobal had described Stewart Detention Center as “a nightmare.” Jones told a Newsweek reporter, “She said Stewart is a nightmare, it’s overcrowded, everyone is crying all the time.”
Furthermore, Jones explained that she had received communication from Ximena’s father as well, saying, “Her dad is also in Stewart. He has said that there’s not enough blankets, that he has had to sleep on the floor. Stewart is terrible.”
In the same Newsweek report, Ximena’s 12-year-old sister, Aurora, called for the 19-year-old and her father to be released, saying, “They’re not criminals, and they’re good people who came here to make a living for themselves.” She added, “They came here for a better future, a bright future, and they came here to work and not to be criminals. And they’re not a danger. They just came like a lot of people went to work and get money.”
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In addition, Hannah Jones set up a GoFundMe on Arias-Cristobal’s behalf, seeking to raise legal expenses for her. As of May 9, 2025, the page reports over $68,000 raised, far surpassing the initial goal of $50,000. “Ximena is a 19-year-old college student currently under ICE detention. We are raising funds for her immigration attorney and bond,” Jones wrote on the page, adding, “She has babysat for my kids for years. We adore her. Ximena is my close friend and my children’s favorite babysitter. All money raised is going directly to Ximena and her family to be used for legal representation.”
Featured image credit: GoFundMe page organized by Hannah Jones