ICE Targets Salvadoran Man After Infant Strangulation Incident
U.S. immigration and customs enforcement is now focusing on a Salvadoran national accused of strangling his infant sister, raising serious concerns for child safety. This announcement came from the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday.
Alvaro Mezia Ayala, aged 21, was arrested in Leesburg, Virginia, after police responded to a call about a non-breathing infant on September 17. Upon arrival, officers found the baby with a white charging cable around her neck, and Ayala had fled the area on foot.
Local news outlet FOX 5 reported that the baby was discovered unresponsive and was taken to the hospital. Currently, her condition is critical.
With aid from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were able to locate Ayala, who now faces charges of strangulation.
According to DHS, Ayala entered the U.S. in 2016 with a family unit during the Obama administration. However, his immigration case was rejected by the Biden administration on October 17, 2024, allowing him to stay in the country illegally. Prior to this incident, Ayala had been arrested for reckless driving but was released before ICE could intervene.
An online court database indicates that Ayala had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for reckless driving earlier in February 2024, with multiple traffic-related charges in the records, including driving without a license.
DHS Deputy Director Tricia McLaughlin voiced her outrage: “What kind of sick monsters strangle a vulnerable, innocent baby girl with a charging cord?” She noted that criminals like Ayala should not be allowed to remain in the U.S.
On social media, she urged followers to pray for the baby, expressing hope for her recovery.
In a contrasting tone, McLaughlin described Ayala as a “monster,” accusing him of “pure evil” in the treatment of his sister.
A spokesperson for the Biden administration chose not to comment on the situation. Efforts to reach out to Obama’s representatives yielded no reply by the time of this report.
