Administration officials say a man faked a seizure during an enforcement operation in a purported attempt to help his illegal migrant wife avoid apprehension.
Carlos Zapata Rivera, an illegal migrant from Ecuador, refused any medical help and displayed “absolutely zero” signs of medical concerns just moments after appearing to suffer a seizure, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Administration officials released the response after viral footage appeared to show him convulsing in his car on Thursday while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents tried to arrest his wife during a targeted operation in Massachusetts.
“Imagine FAKING a seizure to help a criminal escape justice,” DHS said Friday in a public statement. “Emergency Medical Personnel on the scene found no legitimate medical episode — ICE called 911 and the illegal alien refused any medical care.”
The episode began when ICE agents attempted to arrest Rivera’s wife, Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya, a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador previously arrested for stabbing a coworker with scissors and then throwing a trash can at her, according to DHS.
Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya. DHS image.
ICE conducted a vehicle stop on Thursday with Ojeda-Montoya, her husband and her child in the car, according to DHS. When officers informed Ojeda-Montoya that they had a warrant for her arrest, she allegedly refused to hand her child to her husband and leave with authorities, leading to the viral altercation in which both parents resisted ICE agents and Rivera appeared to suffer a seizure.
Initially, both parents stated that they were willing to place their child into state custody instead of simply allowing Rivera to take custody of the child, DHS says. However, Rivera “suddenly decided to be a good father” and left with his kid after realizing that he, too, would be arrested for immigration violations if he did not agree.
“Once again, the media ran with a FALSE narrative about our brave ICE law enforcement officers,” Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a public statement. “As usual, here’s the REAL story: ICE targeted a known criminal who repeatedly stabbed her coworker.”
“Medical personnel found there was no legitimate medical emergency. He was even caught on video on his feet and coherent moments later,” McLaughlin continued. “Our law enforcement officers requested the father take custody of the child, but he refused. He quickly decided to leave with the child once he realized if he didn’t take custody ICE would arrest him for an immigration violation.”
DHS further reported that, during the vehicle stop, a crowd of anti-ICE agitators surrounded the agents and allegedly began shouting death threats and anti-semitic remarks, such as “you look like a Jew” and “we’re going to kill you and your kids.”
Both Ojeda-Montoya and Rivera illegally entered the U.S. in February 2023 and were later released into the country by the Biden administration, according to DHS. Ojeda-Montoya is currently in ICE custody, where she will remain pending her deportation proceedings.
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