DHS denies ICE used 5-year-old as bait
The Department of Homeland Security denied an NBC report that ICE used a 5‑year‑old autistic girl as bait, saying the father abandoned the child and fled into a residence, local police recovered and returned her, and agents remained with the child until she was placed in proper care. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the report a “disgusting smear,” noting the targeted man, Edwards Hip Mejia—detained two days later and held in Plymouth, Massachusetts—has prior domestic‑violence and strangulation convictions, and NBC has updated and appended a correction to its original article.
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📰 Sources (2)
DHS rebukes 'disgusting smear' by NBC after claim ICE used autistic child to pressure father's surrender
New information:
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the NBC report a 'disgusting smear' on Fox & Friends.
- NBC updated its original Sept. 23 article headline and appended a correction saying the earlier version mischaracterized ICE agents' activities.
- DHS said the targeted individual (named in reporting as Edwards Hip Mejia) has prior domestic‑violence and strangulation convictions and that agents stayed with the 5‑year‑old until she was placed in proper care.
DHS rejects NBC report claiming ICE used 5-year-old autistic girl as bait to arrest father
New information:
- DHS publicly denied the 'bait' allegation, asserting the father abandoned his child and fled into a residence.
- Incident occurred outside a Leominster, Massachusetts home; local police recovered and returned the child.
- Edwards Hip Mejia was detained two days later and is being held in Plymouth, Massachusetts.