Shocking deportation scandal explained.
A routine traffic stop in Dalton, Georgia, has spiraled into a full-blown immigration case with a teenage college student now facing deportation.
Traffic incident clarified.
19-year-old Ximena Arias-Cristobal was pulled over after allegedly ignoring a “No Turn on Red” sign on May 5, 2025.
Police say Arias-Cristobal claimed to have an international driver’s license, but when asked to present it, she admitted she didn’t actually have it.
She told officers her mother had taken away the license and told her not to drive—raising even more red flags.
Teenager’s arrest confirmed.
Arias-Cristobal was arrested and charged with driving without a valid license and disobeying traffic control devices.
According to the arrest report, the responding officer tried to speak with the car’s owner—Ximena’s mother—but neither she nor the teen’s father spoke English.
She was booked at the Whitfield County Jail, which participates in ICE’s controversial 287(g) program to identify undocumented immigrants.
Through fingerprinting and database checks, ICE confirmed Arias-Cristobal’s undocumented status.
She was transferred to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia—a facility known for holding undocumented immigrants.
Family’s secret life detailed.
That’s when the real bombshell dropped: Authorities learned the entire Arias-Cristobal family has been living in the U.S. illegally for nearly 15 years.
Ximena was just 4 years old when her parents brought her from Mexico City to Georgia without documentation.
For more than a decade, the family managed to stay off the immigration radar—until now.
Ximena’s father, Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar, was also arrested weeks earlier for driving 19 miles over the speed limit.
ICE detained Arias-Tovar after finding out he didn’t have documentation to live or work in the U.S., despite running his own business.
“My dad has his own company, and they called a lawyer to get a visa, but they didn’t qualify,” Ximena’s younger sister told WTVC.
Ximena wasn’t eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as her arrival came a year too late.
Because of her status, the college student has been paying expensive out-of-state tuition to attend Dalton State Community College.
Hannah Jones, a woman who once employed Ximena as a babysitter, started a GoFundMe to raise money for her legal defense and immigration bond.
“She’s a bright, kind young woman with dreams. It’s heartbreaking to see this happen over something as small as a traffic violation,” Jones told reporters.
Terry Olsen, an immigration attorney in Chattanooga, claims ICE often rushes judgments without reviewing full immigration files.
“We’re seeing ICE act without context—this isn’t how due process should work,” Olsen told WTVC.
According to Olsen, Ximena’s mother is expected to be deported within the month—and ICE will likely send her daughters with her.
The issue of deportation highlighted.
Born in Mexico, raised in Georgia, and now facing deportation—Ximena’s story is one of many living in a legal gray area.
Locals in Dalton describe the family as hardworking and quiet—never causing trouble before now.
Despite running his own company, Arias-Tovar never received work authorization or legal residency status.
Ximena’s case exposes cracks in the U.S. immigration system, particularly for families who’ve been here for over a decade without legal resolution.
Detained teen’s future hangs in the balance.
What happens next to Ximena depends on the outcome of her immigration case—and whether the GoFundMe campaign can fund her legal fight.
Dalton locals and former teachers have voiced support—but legal proceedings move fast, and ICE isn’t known for leniency.
Critics say her arrest highlights the dangers of linking local policing with federal immigration agencies.
One mistake—one illegal turn—triggered a chain of events that may rip an entire family from the only home they’ve known for 15 years.
From speeding tickets to jail cells, the Arias-Cristobals’ lives have gone from everyday normalcy to chaos in a matter of weeks.
As of this week, Arias-Cristobal remains in federal custody, awaiting a deportation hearing that could decide the rest of her life.