An 18-year-old teen from Lynn, Massachusetts, is facing deportation after what started as a sibling feud over a cellphone spiraled into legal trouble and an unexpected encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Court and police records reveal that Zeneyda Barrera, originally from Nicaragua, was arrested Monday morning and charged with assault and battery following a fight with her 12-year-old brother.
Barrera had asked to use her brother's phone, but when he refused, the argument turned physical, leading to her push him, according to police, as reported by ItemLive. A third party heard the ruckus and reported a possible domestic dispute, prompting police to respond and speak with all involved.
Both siblings confirmed what had happened, and officers arrested her. What followed shocked her family; Barrera was transferred to ICE custody after appearing in Lynn District Court.
Authorities have yet to explain why ICE got involved with a minor family dispute case.
"We've been told that ICE is going to be targeting violent offenders whose presence in our communities puts the community at risk, and we don't fully understand yet what triggered ICE's actions in this particular case," Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said Tuesday. "But what I've learned so far suggests that's not what's happening here."
Barrera remains in detention, separated from her family, who are struggling to understand the sudden turn of events.
"We have shared some legal resources with her mother as best we can and alerted our federal representatives who are looking into this case," Nicholson added.
The debacle also captured local law enforcement's attention, who clarified they do not participate in federal immigration enforcement.
"The Lynn Police Department recognizes the legitimate concerns expressed by community members regarding recent activity by federal immigration enforcement (ICE) officials in the city of Lynn. We value all members of this community, including the many hardworking immigrant members who contribute to our shared success," Lynn Police Chief Christopher Reddy said.
"It is imperative for victims and witnesses to feel confident that they can seek assistance from law enforcement without fear of repercussions related to their presence in the United States," Reddy stressed.
Mayor Nicholson went on to pledge the city's commitment to standing by all its residents.
"We do have control over our actions and our values, and we embrace a welcoming environment here in the city as well as public safety," he said. "So we remain committed to those values."
ICE's Boston Field Office has not responded to ItemLive's request for comment.
This case comes as tension is mounting within U.S. immigrant communities. The Trump administration is intensifying its crackdown on undocumented individuals, sweeping up both those with criminal records and those without.
During nationwide immigration raids conducted on Sunday, federal agents apprehended 613 individuals with prior convictions, along with 566 people who had no criminal history, according to reports from NBC News and The Wall Street Journal.
Since Donald Trump took office on January 20, authorities have significantly escalated immigration enforcement, conducting raids in major cities such as Chicago, New York, Denver, Boston, and Los Angeles.
At a press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that while the administration prioritizes arresting individuals with criminal records, no undocumented individual is "off the table" for enforcement.
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