ICE Reveals Criminal Backgrounds of Undocumented Mother and Son Arrested in California, Sparking Controversy

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed that a mother and her son, who were residing in the United States unlawfully, both have previous criminal records. This disclosure came as a reaction to the criticism following their arrests in California last month.

Yolanda Perez and her son, Jonathan Tejeda-Perez, were apprehended near their residence in El Monte, a suburb of Los Angeles, on February 24. According to reports from the family, ICE officials allegedly stated they possessed a warrant but did not actually present one during the arrest.

Yolanda Perez’s daughter, Xitali Tejeda, recounted to a news source that her mother was taken by surprise while repositioning her car for a city street-cleaning vehicle, with her brother attempting to intervene. Video footage captured Yolanda Perez in distress as ICE officers took her into custody, expressing fear by saying, “They’re going to take me.”

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in a federal building in downtown Los Angeles. ICE is pushing back against criticism over the arrests of a mother and son illegally in the United States. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital has reached out to the congressman’s office. 

An ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Yolanda Perez entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and date. She was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in July 2005 for theft. 

Jonathan Tejeda-Perez, who also entered the U.S. illegally at some point, has multiple arrests, ICE said. He was arrested by the sheriff’s department for possession of a controlled substance, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, driving without a license in 2014, possession of a controlled substance in 2015, possession of unlawful paraphernalia, and driving without a license in 2016, ICE said. 

Tejeda-Perez was also arrested in 2017 by the Arcadia Police Department for possession of a controlled substance, the Los Angeles Police Department for property theft, and the United States Postal Inspection Service in Los Angeles for theft or receipt of stolen mail. 

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department vehicle. An off-duty LASD deputy was shot and killed by police in Fontana, California on Tuesday. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

In that case, he was convicted for theft or receipt of stolen mail.

Both mother and son are being detained pending immigration proceedings. The ICE operation was in line with the Trump administration’s edict that criminal illegal immigrants be arrested and deported.