The White House and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have pushed back strongly against viral reports and political criticism suggesting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) used a 5-year-old child to lure his parent during an enforcement operation in Minnesota.
Officials describe such claims as misleading and politically charged.
In statements to media and on social platforms, the White House accused some Democrats and news outlets of spreading what it characterized as “malicious lies” about ICE operations.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the media quickly repeated a narrative tied to Democrats without verifying facts, and insisted ICE officers acted professionally and focused on community safety.
Homeland Security and ICE officials said the episode in question occurred when agents were conducting a targeted arrest of the child’s father, who they say fled and left the child behind.
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DHS asserts that officers stayed with the young boy for his safety while other agents apprehended the parent, and denies that the child was used to attract others or specifically targeted during the operation.
Different interpretations of events continue in public discourse.
Government sources stress their account of what happened and argue their actions were in line with protocols for ensuring the safety of minors in enforcement situations, while critics maintain the imagery and circumstances raise serious concerns about how immigration actions affect families.
