Kamala Harris Slams ICE Over Detention of Five-Year-Old Child in Texas

In her post about “I’m angry, and so should you be,” he added.

Responding to Harris’ remarks, Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin rejected the claim that ICE used the child as bait. In his post on X, he said that the purpose of the ICE operation carried out on January 20 was to arrest the child’s father.

The father abandoned the child during the operation, and ICE officers made several attempts to gain custody of the child’s mother, according to McLaughlin. He claimed that police officers assured the mother that she would not be detained, but she refused to accept custody of the child.

McLaughlin said the father notified ICE officers that he wanted the child to stay with him. He added that during the operation, agitators gathered at the scene, shouting and honking their horns, which frightened the child.

“Our officers’ primary concern throughout the entire operation was the child’s safety and well-being,” McLaughlin said. He stated that the police officers fulfilled the father’s wishes and made the child feel comfortable, bought him food and played his favorite music. He added that the father and child are currently together at a facility in Dilley, Texas.

McLaughlin also said parents are given the option of being removed with their child or having their child placed with a safe person designated by them. He said the policy is consistent with the immigration enforcement practices of past administrations.

He also highlighted the CBP Home app, saying parents can choose to opt out voluntarily, receive a free flight and $2,600, and have the opportunity to return through legal immigration.

Meanwhile, CNN, citing Zena Stenvik, superintendent of the school district in Columbia Heights, reported that the preschooler was removed from the family’s car. CNN said the child and the family are originally from Ecuador and approached border officials in Texas in December 2024 to apply for asylum.

Marc Prokosch, the family’s lawyer, said at a press conference that the family entered the United States legally and is continuing the legal asylum process. “These are not illegal aliens. They came the right way. They came legally and they are following a legal path,” he said.