CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — A Chula Vista woman has stepped up to help two children whose parents were detained by ICE last week, offering to foster their family dog after seeing the story on ABC 10News.
Julie Rieth contacted ABC 10News just 30 minutes after Friday's story aired about two children left in the care of a family friend after Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained both their parents in Chula Vista. The family friend, Itzel Jimenez, had been forced to surrender the family's boxer, Bella, to a shelter because of her own child's allergies.
On Tuesday, Rieth met Jimenez and the boys at Chula Vista Animal Services to pick up Bella. The emotional reunion captured the moment the boxer recognized the children she had been separated from.
"I see them crying, and it hurts my heart. I wish I could do more," Jimenez said.
Rieth, who has been a boxer owner for 30 years, said she felt compelled to help after seeing the story.
"I saw the story on ABC 10, and when they put her picture up there when she was in the lobby, I just thought, 'What is going on?' It just broke my heart," Rieth said.
She agreed to foster Bella while the parents' immigration case remains ongoing.
"That's just not where family dogs belong, and she's probably so scared and so stressed out," Rieth said.
The family now has an attorney, and Congressman Juan Vargas is also getting involved in the case.
Despite never meeting the family, Rieth said offering to help felt like the right thing to do.
"Although we're not having issues like Minnesota, it's right here all the time and when you see it go on in your own community, you gotta step up and step in," Rieth said.
After multiple requests for comment, an ICE spokesperson provided the following response regarding the Chula Vista parents:
“ICE arrested Reinaldo Chirino-Rivero, an illegal alien from Venezuela, on Jan. 27. Chirino is in the United States illegally and will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
ICE also arrested Kris Stefany Pineda-Torregrosa, an illegal alien from Colombia, on Jan. 27. Pineda was found to be in the United States illegally, having entered the country without inspection. Pineda will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Neither alien has any lawful status to remain in the United States.
Those who are here illegally can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return. Learn more here: CBP Home Mobile Application | U.S. Customs and Border Protection [cbp.gov].
Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates.”
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
