June 11, 2025
“Good afternoon, Charman Durbin and members of the Judiciary Committee. My name is Ximena Arias Cristobal. I am 19 years old—a daughter, big sister, and an avid runner.
On May 5th, I was pulled over for allegedly turning right at a “No Turn on Red” sign. What began as a simple traffic stop quickly escalated. I was taken to Whitfield County Jail, where I stayed for two days. While I was there, I learned I was being transferred to Stewart Detention Center—where my dad was already being held.
Before I share what happened during my time in detention, I want to tell you a little bit about who I am.
My parents and I came to the U.S. in 2010 when I was just 4 years old. For over 15 years, I’ve called this country—and Georgia—home. I grew up in Dalton and went through the public school system, from kindergarten through high school graduation.
I was an honor student, active in sports, volunteering, and student clubs. After high school, I attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta thanks to a scholarship from TheDream.US. I ran cross country and pursued my education. I later transferred to Dalton State College, where I’m currently working on my degree in Finance and Economics, with a minor in Marketing.
Since kindergarten, I’ve pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States. My dream is to one day become a citizen. I was not eligible for DACA—but if I had been, I would have applied without hesitation.
What happened to me is not rare—it’s part of a growing pattern that is both scary and un-American. And I know I’m not alone in thinking that. I live in an overwhelmingly conservative community, yet when I was taken to Stewart, my neighbors rallied for me.
As a teenager, being held in jail, even for just two days, was traumatizing. I was surrounded by people who had committed serious crimes. But what left the deepest mark on me was the transfer: being shackled at the wrists, waist, and ankles. That is something I will never forget—it was dehumanizing.
And what’s worse is knowing that millions of others have experienced, and continue to experience, this same trauma.
My time at Stewart Detention Center was life-altering. Stewart is a private detention facility known for its mistreatment of immigrants. Detention centers are supposed to be temporary holding spaces while people determine their legal options. But at Stewart, we were treated like criminals. The conditions, the language used toward us, the lack of dignity and compassion—it felt more like punishment than due process.
Due process is supposed to mean fairness under the law. But inside Stewart, people are denied that basic right. We were left in the dark about our cases. Legal help was scarce. We were treated not like individuals with rights, but like numbers in a system designed to break us.
I was held at Stewart for two and a half weeks before being granted a minimum bond of $1,500—thanks to my incredible attorney, Dustin Baxter. My time there was short compared to others, but the emotional weight was unbearable. I witnessed women—mothers, daughters, sisters—suffer daily under cruel and unnecessary conditions.
What’s happening inside detention centers like Stewart is not just a legal issue. It is a human rights issue.
I’m grateful to have the opportunity to share my story. But my story is just one of many. Every day across this country, people—many who have lived here nearly their whole lives—are being detained without access to fair legal representation, without proper care, and without the basic dignity all people deserve.
I am not just an immigrant.
I am a human being.
I am a Georgian.
I am an American without papers.
I hope my story opens eyes and hearts to what is really happening—not just to me, but to thousands of others. No one should have to go through what I did. We need a system that reflects our values of justice, dignity, and due process.
Instead of arrests and detentions and threats of deportation, wouldn’t it be better if we had a chance to become legal American citizens?
Thank you for listening, for caring, and for taking action.”