Ximena Arias-Cristobal's recent run-in with the law has unexpectedly endangered her family's future in the U.S.
According to the New York Post, A 19-year-old college student from Georgia faces possible deportation along with her family after a driving violation led to the revelation of their undocumented status.
Originally from Mexico, Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a student at Dalton State Community College, was stopped by police in Dalton, GA, on May 5, 2025. The officer detained her for driving without a valid license and violating a "no turn on red" signal.
At the time of her arrest, Arias-Cristobal admitted to not having her supposed international driver's license with her, explaining that her mother had taken it and advised her against driving.
This traffic infraction led to further investigations, which confirmed her as a non-U.S. citizen. Arias-Cristobal had been living illegally in the U.S. since 2010 after moving with her parents at the age of four.
Her detention at Whitfield County Jail, which cooperates with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the 287(G) program, marked the beginning of her family's legal troubles. Authorities also detained her father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, at ICE’s Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA, following his traffic-related arrest. Law enforcement uncovered not only Ximena's status but also that of her family members.
The economic burden of her education has been significant, as Arias-Cristobal has had to pay out-of-state tuition due to her citizenship status. In a further blow, she became ineligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program because of her timing of entry into the U.S.
To assist during these challenging times, Hannah Jones, a friend of the family, started a GoFundMe campaign. She intends to use the funds to hire an immigration attorney and cover bond costs.
Terry Olsen, a Chattanooga-based immigration attorney, has vocally criticized the handling of the situation and questioned ICE's immediate assumptions during routine stops. Olsen expressed concerns about the procedure and its implications for civil rights.
Concerns Over Due Process and Civil Rights
We do see that ICE is really trying to find any and all methods to say that an international has some way violated the process and their status. What’s concerning is that when they are being checked at these checkpoints or at the stops, ICE does not have their entire immigration file in front of them, they’re not looking at all of it, and they’re just relying on one item. This is a civil rights issue.
Reports indicate that Ximena Arias-Cristobal's mother will soon face arrest and deportation, further exacerbating the family’s plight. To keep the family together, authorities will also deport her daughters.
A statement from Ximena's younger sister highlighted the family's failed attempts to normalize their status through legal avenues, despite having established roots and entrepreneurial ventures in the community. The unfolding events demonstrate a rigorous enforcement policy, impacting individuals and families who have long lived in U.S. communities and built their lives despite their legal uncertainties.
With the legal and community support, the Arias family holds on to a thread of hope, aiming to resolve their status and remain in the U.S. Their story underscores the complex intersection of immigration policy and individual lives, casting a light on broader systemic issues and the personal toll of enforcement practices.
