Administration officials say a man faked a seizure during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in a purported attempt to help his illegal migrant wife avoid arrest — an incident that quickly went viral online.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Carlos Zapata Rivera, an illegal migrant from Ecuador, showed “absolutely zero” medical distress moments after appearing to convulse in his car while agents attempted to arrest his wife, Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya, during a targeted enforcement operation on Thursday.
I hope you’re sitting down, but “seizure dad” is another sick hoax from the left.
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) November 7, 2025
Update from Homeland Security:
The target of this operation, Juliana Milena Ojeda-Montoya, is the WORST OF THE WORST.
In August 2025, local police arrested Ojeda-Montoya, a criminal illegal… pic.twitter.com/LFduErIR9H
“Imagine FAKING a seizure to help a criminal escape justice,” DHS said in a statement Friday. “Emergency Medical Personnel on the scene found no legitimate medical episode — ICE called 911, and the illegal alien refused any medical care.”
Targeted Arrest Leads to Viral Altercation
Officials say ICE agents stopped a vehicle carrying Ojeda-Montoya, Rivera, and their child. When agents informed Ojeda-Montoya that they had a federal warrant for her arrest, she allegedly refused to comply and resisted efforts to hand her child over to her husband.
Ojeda-Montoya, also an Ecuadorian national, has a prior criminal record — including an arrest for stabbing a coworker with scissors and throwing a trash can at her, DHS said.
The confrontation escalated as both parents resisted ICE agents, with Rivera suddenly collapsing and appearing to experience a seizure. DHS says Rivera’s episode was staged. After medical personnel arrived and determined he was fine, Rivera reportedly declined care and was seen standing and coherent moments later.
“False Narrative” About ICE Officers, DHS Says
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned early media coverage of the incident, accusing outlets of spreading a misleading narrative about ICE’s conduct.
“Once again, the media ran with a FALSE narrative about our brave ICE law enforcement officers,” McLaughlin said. “ICE targeted a known criminal who repeatedly stabbed her coworker. Medical personnel found there was no legitimate medical emergency. He was even caught on video on his feet and coherent moments later.”
McLaughlin added that ICE officers had asked Rivera to take custody of his child, but he initially refused — stating that he would rather allow the child to be placed into state custody. According to DHS, Rivera “suddenly decided to be a good father” once he realized that he too could be arrested for immigration violations if he did not comply.
Officials Say ICE Agents Faced Hostile Crowd
During the incident, DHS says a group of anti-ICE protesters gathered at the scene and shouted obscenities, death threats, and antisemitic remarks at the agents.
According to officials, some members of the crowd yelled phrases such as “you look like a Jew” and “we’re going to kill you and your kids.”
Both Migrants Were Previously Released by Biden Administration
DHS confirmed that both Ojeda-Montoya and Rivera illegally entered the United States. in February 2023 and were later released into the country by the Biden administration.
Ojeda-Montoya is currently in ICE custody, where she will remain pending deportation proceedings. Rivera’s immigration status is also under review.
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