ATLANTA — The undocumented Georgia college student who was sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center is back home.
A federal judge granted Ximena Arias-Cristobal bond on Wednesday, and now, Channel 2’s Audrey Washington has spoken to her about her experience inside the detention center.
Over the phone, Arias-Cristobal sounded optimistic as she spoke about life after her experience.
“I won’t ever be the same,” she said. “It’s life-changing.”
Arias-Cristobal spent more than 15 days inside an ICE detention center and being granted a $1,500 bond.
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“Even with all the bad and a situation that no one wants to be in, I’m super grateful to have experienced what I’ve experienced,” Arias-Cristobal told Washington.
The college student’s case has made national headlines after Dalton police mistakenly pulled her over for a traffic violation.
They then learned Arias-Cristobal was in the country illegally. ICE planned to deport the college student.
She has lived in the United States since her parents brought her from Mexico at just 4 years old.
“We’re going to keep working on her case to try to keep her here permanently,” Arias-Cristobal’s attorney, Dustin Baxter, said. “She doesn’t have a permanent relative or citizen, spouse, parent or child. But if Dad wins his case, then she would have that qualifying relative.”
Baxter said the family posted bond, and Arias-Cristobal was released from ICE custody around 9:30 p.m.
“It changed me as a person,” Arias-Cristobal told Washington.
Baxter said it took immigration about three hours to process the bond payment.
Arias-Cristobal arrived back at her home late Thursday night.
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