A viral social media video showing an ICE arrest in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, has sparked outrage among left-wing activists—many claiming that officers caused a man to suffer a seizure while holding a small child. But according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), those claims are false, and the supposed medical emergency was staged to obstruct the lawful arrest of a violent criminal illegal alien.
The incident involved Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya, an Ecuadoran national who was released into the United States by the Biden administration in 2023. In August 2025, she was arrested by Fitchburg Police for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after allegedly stabbing her co-worker twice with a pair of scissors and throwing a trash barrel at her.
During ICE’s targeted vehicle stop to take Ojeda-Montoya into custody, her husband and child were also in the car. According to DHS, Ojeda-Montoya handed her child to her husband as he began faking a seizure—a distraction tactic meant to interfere with the arrest.
Emergency medical personnel were immediately called to the scene, but found no medical emergency. “There were absolutely no signs of medical concerns just moments later,” DHS reported, adding that the man refused medical care when it was offered.
Despite these facts, bystanders began filming and yelling at officers, accusing them of harming the family. One viral post with over 18 million views falsely claimed that ICE “sent a man into a violent seizure while he held his toddler.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin pushed back on that narrative, outlining the verified facts of the case:
“As usual, here’s the real story,” McLaughlin stated.
“1. This was a targeted ICE arrest of a violent criminal illegal alien who, in August, repeatedly stabbed her coworker with scissors and then threw a trash can at her victim.
2. Emergency medical personnel found no legitimate medical episode—ICE called 911 and the illegal alien refused any medical care.”
Fitchburg police arrived on the scene to manage a growing and agitated crowd as activists attempted to interfere with the operation.
Representative Ayanna Pressley responded on X, calling the video “a sickening example of Trump and ICE’s blatant disregard for humanity.”
DHS issued a firm rebuttal later that day, writing:
As usual, here’s the REAL story:
1. This was a targeted ICE arrest of a violent criminal illegal alien who, in August, repeatedly stabbed her coworker with scissors & then threw a trash can at her victim.
2. Emergency Medical Personnel on the scene found no legitimate medical… https://t.co/5guYVCCrGE
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) November 7, 2025
“Imagine faking a seizure to help a criminal escape justice. The target of this operation, Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya, is the worst of the worst.”
Officials emphasized that the enforcement action was lawful, targeted, and focused on removing a dangerous individual who had already shown a willingness to commit violent crimes while in the United States.
President Trump’s administration has repeatedly underscored its commitment to enforcing immigration law and ensuring that violent offenders—especially those unlawfully present in the country—are held accountable and removed to protect American communities.