ICE agents allegedly took a 5-year-old girl hostage while attempting to apprehend her father, according to family claims.
In a controversial incident that has drawn significant public attention, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reportedly used a five-year-old girl as leverage in an arrest operation targeting her father in Leominster, Massachusetts. The event has raised serious concerns regarding the agents’ tactics and has sparked discussions about the agency’s practices.
According to family members, video footage captured the moment ICE agents surrounded the child outside their home while negotiating with her father, Edward Hip. Hip has lived in the United States for over two decades after immigrating from Guatemala and resides with his wife and their two U.S.-born children. Eyewitness accounts suggest that Hip was pursued by ICE while driving with his daughter, leading him to flee to their residence.
As per the family’s account reported by local news outlet WNEU, Hip’s wife described how, upon arriving home, her husband exited the vehicle in haste, prompting the agents to surround the vehicle where their daughter was still seated. A video obtained by the news station features one agent inquiring if the girl was indeed their daughter and demanding to see identification, a move that was met with distress by the family.
In the video, Hip’s wife pleads for the return of her daughter, who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. As agents continued their demands, they allegedly threatened to forcibly enter the home unless the door was opened within a specific timeframe. The family’s fears escalated, leading them to contact local law enforcement for assistance. Responding officers were able to reunite the child with her family, but the situation took a turn when ICE agents returned two days later to arrest Hip, subsequently transporting him to a detention facility in Plymouth.
As of now, both ICE and local police officials have refrained from providing public comments about the event, which took place on September 16. This incident has reignited debates surrounding ICE’s enforcement methods and the implications they have on families, particularly those of immigrant backgrounds. Critics have voiced concerns over the appropriateness of using children in situations intended for apprehending adults, emphasizing the need for policy reviews to ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals in such interactions.
The unfolding narrative continues to attract media scrutiny, highlighting the critical intersection of immigration enforcement and child welfare in the United States.
