LEOMINSTER — Edwards Hip Mejia, a Leominster man detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in September, was released on bond this week.
The arrest followed a September 16 operation outside Mejia’s home on Ash Street, where ICE agents confronted him after a traffic stop. The encounter was captured on video that was later shared widely and showed agents approaching a vehicle with Mejia’s 5-year-old daughter inside. Two days later, on September 18, Mejia was taken into custody as he was leaving for work.
ICE said Mejia was arrested because he posed a threat to the community, citing a 2024 domestic assault charge that was later dismissed. His attorney, Jacob Geller, told GBH News that the judge found there was not enough evidence to classify Mejia as a danger and determined he was a low flight risk, though bond was applied to ensure his appearance at future hearings.
“We are overjoyed to know that he’s back with his family, particularly his 5-year-old daughter, who has certainly been suffering quite a bit through all of this,” Geller told GBH News. “The judge agreed that that was insufficient to find that he was a danger to community. Outside of that, her position was that he was a low-flight risk, but did apply some bond to his case to make sure that he appears at court.”
Mejia’s wife, Jansy Mejia, told GBH News in Spanish that his return brought relief to the family. “Things are better. Me and the girls are so happy — they were very sad and upset with him gone,” she said. “Now thank God that he’s back in the house, and they’re glad. He can go out and do the groceries, provide, the things I couldn’t do. He’s eager to take the girls to school and to live a normal life.”
In a statement, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the judge’s decision to release Mejia on bond, describing him as a “criminal illegal alien from Guatemala.”
“This activist judge chose to allow Edwards Hip Mejia, a criminal illegal alien who had charges for strangulation and domestic abuse loose on American streets. This criminal illegal alien from Guatemala entered the country at an unknown date and unknown location,” McLaughlin said. “During this criminal’s arrest on September 18, he ignored law enforcement emergency lights to pull over and drove back to his house. He fled from the car, gave officers the double middle finger, and darted inside his house. He abandoned the 5-year-old daughter in the car. Officers helped rescue the child and called local police to report the abandonment.”
