DHS says baby in Minnesota was 'deserted' by father, not focused by ICE

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

The Division of Homeland Safety mentioned a toddler, who Minnesota Democrats alleged was focused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was truly "deserted" throughout an immigration enforcement operation.

After Democrats, together with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., shared a picture of a 5-year-old boy on-line and claimed he was arrested by ICE whereas coming dwelling from pre-school, the White Home fired again in an announcement to Fox Information Digital. White Home spokeswoman Abigail Jackson condemned what the Trump administration views because the mainstream media working "hand-in-glove with Democrats to unfold malicious lies about ICE operations."

"It’s shameful that the media so rapidly runs with the faux Democrat narrative with out first getting the information," Jackson mentioned. "Right here’s the truth: ICE officers work heroically with the utmost professionalism to make American communities safer. On this occasion, they stayed with a toddler who was deserted by his father – an unlawful alien from Ecuador."

"The media’s lies have penalties – assaults in opposition to ICE officers have elevated by 1300% due to harmful smears in opposition to them by elected Democrats which might be amplified by the press," she added. "The Trump Administration will not be solely eradicating harmful legal unlawful aliens from the nation, however we're additionally finding the numerous migrant kids that Joe Biden misplaced. Due to the Administration’s efforts nicely over 120,000 kids have been positioned."

MINNESOTA AGITATORS ARRESTED IN WAKE OF CHURCH INVASION, BONDI SAYS

A photograph exhibits a younger baby standing beside a automobile throughout an ICE operation. (Columbia Heights Public Faculties)

The feedback come as a photograph is circulating on-line purportedly exhibiting a younger boy sporting a bunny-shaped winter hat standing subsequent to a black automobile, with an grownup’s hand positioned on his backpack.

Columbia Heights Public Faculties Superintendent Zena Stenvik mentioned the boy was taken by federal brokers from a operating automotive whereas it was within the household's driveway Tuesday afternoon.

The kid, who on the time was arriving dwelling from preschool, was later despatched together with his father to a detention facility in Texas, The Related Press reported, citing faculty officers and the household's lawyer.

"ICE did NOT goal a toddler. The kid was ABANDONED," Homeland Safety wrote on X on Thursday. "On January 20, ICE performed a focused operation to arrest Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, an unlawful alien from Ecuador who was RELEASED into the U.S. by the Biden administration."

"As brokers approached the driver Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias fled on foot — abandoning his baby. For the kid’s security, certainly one of our ICE officers remained with the kid whereas the opposite officers apprehended Conejo Arias," it added.

"Mother and father are requested in the event that they need to be eliminated with their kids, or ICE will place the kids with a protected individual the mum or dad designates. That is in line with previous administration’s immigration enforcement," DHS additionally mentioned.

In one other publish, DHS wrote: "Our officer’s made a number of makes an attempt to get the mom inside the home to take custody of her baby. Officers even assured her that they might NOT take her into custody. She refused to simply accept custody of the kid. The daddy informed officers he needed the kid to stay with him. Our officers main concern throughout the complete operation was the protection and welfare of the kid. Following the mom’s abandonment of the kid, officers abided by the daddy’s needs to maintain the kid with him. Father and son are collectively at Dilley [Immigration Processing Center]."

The Division of Homeland Safety mentioned a toddler who was reported detained by federal immigration brokers in Minnesota this week was "deserted" by his father, not focused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (Columbia Heights Public Faculties)

Stenvik had mentioned the household has an lively asylum case and has not been ordered to depart the nation. The varsity official alleged officers informed the kid to knock on the door to his dwelling to see if different individuals have been inside.

"Why detain a 5-year-old?" Stenvik was quoted as saying, in line with the AP. "You can't inform me that this baby goes to be labeled as a violent legal."

The boy and his father have been being held in a household holding cell in Texas, Marc Prokosch, the household’s lawyer, mentioned throughout a information convention Wednesday, in line with the AP.

MINNESOTA POLICE CHIEFS ALLEGE SOME ICE AGENTS RACIALLY PROFILED US CITIZENS, INCLUDING OFF-DUTY OFFICERS

The incident is being condemned by Minnesota Democrats.

"Minnesotans need security. They need freedom. They need what’s finest for our children. Masked brokers snatching preschoolers off the road and sending them to Texas detention facilities serves none of these functions," Walz wrote on X on Thursday. "This marketing campaign of retribution has obtained to cease."

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz mentioned Thursday that, "This marketing campaign of retribution has obtained to cease." (Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune through Getty Photos)

"ICE simply detained a 5-year-old baby. Don’t inform us that is about ‘the worst of the worst.’ That’s a lie. Completely vile," Omar mentioned the day earlier than.

Hillary Clinton additionally wrote on X Thursday: "Implementing the legislation is one factor. Terrorizing a inhabitants, utilizing kids as pawns, is one other."

In response, ICE's X account pushed again, saying to Clinton, "THIS IS AN ABJECT LIE."

"The kid was ABANDONED by his father, a legal unlawful alien from Ecuador, who fled from our officers. Our officers ensured the kid was SAFE. Does your coronary heart additionally ache for the hundreds of households who've misplaced family members to violent, legal unlawful alien MURDERERS? You haven’t tweeted about these Angel Households as soon as," it added.

The boy is the fourth scholar from Columbia Heights Public Faculties who has been detained by ICE in latest weeks, in line with Stenvik.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Columbia Heights Public Faculties informed Fox Information Digital that it's holding a press convention "Concerning Immigration Enforcement Actions Involving College students" at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday.