US schoolgirl tapes her undocumented father being detained, sparks emotion

LOS ANGELES: A crying schoolgirl’s videotape of her undocumented father being arrested by federal agents in the Los Angeles area this week while taking his children to school has sparked emotion and outrage. Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, a 48-year-old Mexican who has lived in the United States for some 20 years, was arrested on Tuesday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) near his children’s school located in the Highland Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles. His 13-year-old daughter Fatima Avelica recorded the arrest from the backseat of the car as she wept. Authorities said Avelica-Gonzalez was arrested because of a 2009 conviction for driving under the influence and had an outstanding deportation order against him dating back to 2014. News reports also said he was sought because of an incident 20 years ago in which he purchased a car with an incorrect registration sticker. ICE officials said Avelica-Gonzalez was being detained pending a hearing on his case. The family, meanwhile, has hired an attorney to try and help him remain in the country. — AFP