FITCHBURG, MA – The arrest of a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador earlier in November resulted in online backlash against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the arrestee’s husband reportedly faked a medical episode during the woman’s detainment. Homeland Security officials have since responded to what they called a “misleading video” circulating, while also citing the illegal alien’s criminal history of allegedly stabbing her coworker.
According to a press release from Homeland Security, ICE agents were engaged in a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Fitchburg on November 6th, where an Ecuadoran illegal alien identified as Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya was the subject of arrest.
A video making the rounds online depicting a sub-thirty-second portion of Ojeda-Montoya’s arrest shows her clinging to her child as well as her husband, identified as Carlos Zapata Rivera, who can be seen shaking in a manner that caused onlookers to assert he was seizing.
Homeland Security’s press release noted the agency was “setting the record straight” regarding what officials have called a “misleading video,” highlighting that Rivera was also subject to arrest by ICE as both he and Ojeda-Montoya entered the country illegally back in February 2023. However, in the interest of avoiding the couple’s child being taken into state custody, ICE was willing to leave the child in Rivera’s care as agents were focused on apprehending Ojeda-Montoya due to her criminal history.
According to Homeland Security, Rivera’s purported medical episode immediately ended once he was made aware that he could also be arrested, and the couple’s child would be placed into the foster care system.
As for Ojeda-Montoya, officials say she was targeted for arrest by ICE following criminal charges within Massachusetts, where she allegedly “repeatedly stabbed her coworker with scissors and then threw a trash can at her victim,” this past August.
When agents approached the vehicle where Ojeda-Montoya and her husband were on November 6th, officials say that’s when Ojeda-Montoya began clutching her husband while their toddler was sandwiched between them. Agency officials also pointed out that the child was riding inside the vehicle on the mother’s lap, devoid of “the safety of a car seat.”
Anti-ICE agitators had reportedly gathered outside the scene of Ojeda-Montoya’s apprehension, with agency officials claiming individuals in the crowd began to hurl antisemitic remarks while others outwardly threatened to kill the ICE agents and their family members.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement in light of the misleading media coverage, saying, “Once again, the media ran with a false narrative about our brave ICE law enforcement officers. As usual, here’s the real story: ICE targeted a known criminal who repeatedly stabbed her coworker.”
McLaughlin continued her statement by addressing the viral nature of Rivera’s purported medical episode, saying, “Medical personnel found there was no legitimate medical emergency. He was even caught on video on his feet and coherent moments later. Our law enforcement officers requested the father to take custody of the child, but he refused. He quickly decided to leave with the child once he realized that if he didn’t take custody, ICE would arrest him for an immigration violation.”
According to a press release from Homeland Security, ICE agents were engaged in a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Fitchburg on November 6th, where an Ecuadoran illegal alien identified as Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya was the subject of arrest.
A video making the rounds online depicting a sub-thirty-second portion of Ojeda-Montoya’s arrest shows her clinging to her child as well as her husband, identified as Carlos Zapata Rivera, who can be seen shaking in a manner that caused onlookers to assert he was seizing.
Homeland Security’s press release noted the agency was “setting the record straight” regarding what officials have called a “misleading video,” highlighting that Rivera was also subject to arrest by ICE as both he and Ojeda-Montoya entered the country illegally back in February 2023. However, in the interest of avoiding the couple’s child being taken into state custody, ICE was willing to leave the child in Rivera’s care as agents were focused on apprehending Ojeda-Montoya due to her criminal history.
According to Homeland Security, Rivera’s purported medical episode immediately ended once he was made aware that he could also be arrested, and the couple’s child would be placed into the foster care system.
As for Ojeda-Montoya, officials say she was targeted for arrest by ICE following criminal charges within Massachusetts, where she allegedly “repeatedly stabbed her coworker with scissors and then threw a trash can at her victim,” this past August.
When agents approached the vehicle where Ojeda-Montoya and her husband were on November 6th, officials say that’s when Ojeda-Montoya began clutching her husband while their toddler was sandwiched between them. Agency officials also pointed out that the child was riding inside the vehicle on the mother’s lap, devoid of “the safety of a car seat.”
Anti-ICE agitators had reportedly gathered outside the scene of Ojeda-Montoya’s apprehension, with agency officials claiming individuals in the crowd began to hurl antisemitic remarks while others outwardly threatened to kill the ICE agents and their family members.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement in light of the misleading media coverage, saying, “Once again, the media ran with a false narrative about our brave ICE law enforcement officers. As usual, here’s the real story: ICE targeted a known criminal who repeatedly stabbed her coworker.”
McLaughlin continued her statement by addressing the viral nature of Rivera’s purported medical episode, saying, “Medical personnel found there was no legitimate medical emergency. He was even caught on video on his feet and coherent moments later. Our law enforcement officers requested the father to take custody of the child, but he refused. He quickly decided to leave with the child once he realized that if he didn’t take custody, ICE would arrest him for an immigration violation.”
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