Homeland Security Denies Abduction of Los Angeles Woman

The Department of Homeland Security has dismissed reports that a woman from Los Angeles was forcibly taken by bounty hunters and held hostage. Family members and attorneys of Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon claimed she was stalked and ambushed by armed men in unmarked trucks while driving to work. They allege she managed to contact her family during the incident, after which she was taken to a border station and handed over to ICE officials, who reportedly pressured her to sign self-deportation documents and leave the country.

Calderon allegedly described being detained in a warehouse with other individuals who refused to self-deport. Her attorneys stated she was held without law enforcement present and that some detainees had been confined for months. However, the DHS strongly contested these claims, calling the story a fabrication. They emphasized that Calderon was never arrested or kidnapped by ICE and clarified that ICE does not collaborate with private bounty hunters.

Calderon’s legal team noted she does not appear on detainee lists and that they have lost contact with her, insisting she remains in ICE custody. Rumors have circulated suggesting that private bounty hunters are being employed to help meet high arrest quotas imposed by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, which recently increased to 3,000 arrests per day. Nonetheless, in California, bounty hunters are strictly regulated and only authorized under specific circumstances with direct supervision from bond companies.

Legislation Proposals Around Bounty Hunters

Mississippi and Missouri have introduced legislation to permit bounty hunters to assist ICE operations. While Missouri’s broader immigration reform package is still under legislative review, it has garnered limited support from Republicans. Mississippi’s bill was rejected in committee earlier this year.