A University of Georgia student facing possible deportation was wrongfully stopped by police on Monday.
19-year-old Ximena Arias-Cristobal from Mexico was mistakenly accused of making an illegal turn at a red light on May 5th, with city officials stating that officers confused her with another driver.
During the encounter, authorities noted that Arias-Cristobal, who was illegally in the U.S., did not possess a valid driver’s license. She was detained at the scene and later transferred to immigration authorities.
Although Dalton police have dropped all charges, her lawyers mentioned that this decision comes “too little, too late” for Arias-Cristobal, who remains in custody.
One of her attorneys, Dustin Baxter, expressed frustration, stating, “That’s very infuriating.”
“We trust that there was no malice on the police officer’s part, but it’s devastating to think that such mistakes could jeopardize her freedom and impact her status in the U.S.,” he said.
The confusion stemmed from arrest reports indicating that the officers believed they were enforcing the law regarding “turn on red” signs incorrectly.
Arias-Cristobal claimed she had an international driver’s license, according to the report.
She had reportedly been hesitant to drive out of fear regarding her situation.
Dashcam footage revealed that while the officers witnessed a black pickup truck making an illegal turn, they mistakenly pursued Arias-Cristobal’s dark gray Dodge truck instead.
The police video clearly shows the patrol car chasing the vehicle and eventually stopping her in a parking lot. Arias-Cristobal explained to the officers that the vehicle belonged to a friend of her mother, whom she had assisted.
Upon discovering that she didn’t have a license, authorities handcuffed her.
“Do you know what happens when you drive without a license in Georgia?” one officer asked, highlighting the serious nature of the situation.
Arias-Cristobal is currently held at the Federal Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, with her case being coordinated with immigration enforcement after her detention at the Whitfield County Jail.
Her father, Jose Francisco Arias Toval, is also in the same federal facility, having been taken into custody for speeding last month, which could lead to possible deportation.
The family, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2010 from Mexico, has a hearing scheduled for May 20th. Baxter aims to persuade the Immigration Court that Arias-Cristobal does not pose a danger to the community and deserves to be released prior to her deportation hearing.
