Internet outage delays Dalton teen’s deportation bond hearing

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF)- A Dalton teen who police say was wrongly arrested a few weeks ago was supposed to face her deportation hearing Tuesday.

Xiamena Arias-Cristobal has been in ICE custody for nearly two weeks.

However, she will have to wait to learn her fate.

Xiamena Arias-Cristobal was arrested for not having a driver’s license after a Dalton Police officer wrongly identified her vehicle as one that had made an improper turn on Thornton Avenue.

ICE ultimately took custody of her as she illegally came to America with her parents when she was four years old.

She has grown up in Dalton, attending Dalton State College among other community activities.

They have held her at the Stewart Detention Center in South Georgia according to her attorneys.

They say she was supposed to have a virtual deportation bond hearing Tuesday.

However, the detention facility suffered an internet outage, and an Atlanta-based judge had to postpone the hearing.

They will try again tomorrow, where attorneys say they hope to get and make a bond so Arias-Cristobal can return home while her case is pending.

Attorney Dustin Baxter wrote in a statement:

“Today’s hearing has been postponed due to technical issues.  Apparently AT&T suffered a system outage in Lumpkin, Georgia.  That made it impossible for Ximena and the government attorney to appear before the judge.  Since AT&T was unable to diagnose the issue or give a timeline for repair, the judge was forced to cancel today’s hearing.  The hearing has been reset for tomorrow at 1:00.  We are sad that Ximena must spend another day at Stewart, but we remain focused on getting her a bond so that she can be reunited with her family.”

We will let you know if there is a decision made on this issue Wednesday.