DALTON, Ga. — Ximena Arias-Cristobal was given “the minimal amount of bond possible under the law,” at her immigration hearing Wednesday, according to attorney Dustin Baxter.
The 19-year-old was initially taken into custody by police in Dalton, Ga. in a case of mistaken arrest for a traffic violation.
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“We’re joyful that she is coming home but this is just the beginning of her journey as far as immigration court goes,” long-time friend of Arias-Cristobal, Hannah Jones, told Channel 2’s Audrey Washington.
Despite Dalton police saying they’d made a mistake and were dismissing her charges, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they still planned to deport Arias-Cristobal.
Arias-Cristobal has lived in the United States since she was a child, coming in with her parents as an undocumented minor.
According to Arias-Cristobal’s attorney, she was given a $1,500 bond and the federal government did not wish to file an appeal.
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Arias-Cristobal’s family plans to pay the bond as soon as possible, according to Baxter, and she will be home by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.
Jones says she spoke to Arias-Cristobal moments after the hearing.
“I can’t believe that its finally happening,” she said. “We were both screaming on the phone I was jumping up and down.”
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