The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, addressed the controversy generated by a report claiming that a five-year-old child had been arrested by immigration authorities, stating that the initial version lacked context and was misleading. Vance explained that, after reviewing the full facts, it became clear that the child was not arrested at any time.
According to the Vice President, the true target of the operation was the child’s father, an illegal immigrant who fled when authorities attempted to detain him, leaving the minor alone and in a risky situation. In response, ICE agents temporarily took custody of the child solely to protect him, as they could not simply abandon him or expose him to dangerous conditions, such as extreme cold.
Vance emphasized that arguing someone cannot be detained for violating the law simply because they have children would amount to granting total immunity from law enforcement, something he described as absurd and unworkable. He reiterated that ICE does not seek to arrest U.S. citizens, but rather to enforce existing immigration laws against foreign nationals who are in the country illegally.
He also clarified that in the few cases where citizens have been detained during such operations, it is generally because they attempted to assault federal agents, which fully justifies intervention on security grounds.
Finally, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that no one wants chaotic operations, including the agents themselves, and stressed that greater cooperation among local, state, and federal authorities would significantly reduce tensions in communities, without weakening law enforcement or national security.
