Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old Mexican illegal alien living in Los Angeles who was charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers. (Drew A. Kelley/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images and DOJ)
After the charges went public, DHS slammed Bass for her comments, saying, "Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was NEVER arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from Los Angeles."
RNC Research, a page run by the Republican National Committee, also chimed in, commenting on X that "Karen Bass spreads a false story demonizing ICE agents."
According to the Justice Department, Calderon claimed to have been kidnapped by masked, uniformed men in unmarked cars at a Jack in the Box parking lot June 25. She claimed to have been forcibly taken to the border and presented to an ICE staffer who demanded she sign self-deportation papers. Calderon said that when she refused to sign the document, she was taken to a warehouse to be held indefinitely.
The Los Angeles Police Department launched a missing person investigation and notified DHS, which, after determining Calderon was not in its custody, launched its own investigation.
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According to an affidavit included in the criminal complaint against Calderon, an HSI investigator reviewed surveillance footage that showed her "walking towards a parked silver Nissan sedan. CALDERON placed the bag she was carrying in the back seat of the Nissan, then opened the passenger car door, and got into the car. I have watched this video, and CALDERON is again walking at a normal pace, and does not appear to be in any distress." (US Justice Department)
Calderon's daughter also attempted to raise money from Calderon's alleged kidnapping by creating a GoFundMe page.
A spokesperson for GoFundMe told Fox News Digital the page was removed and that the family did not access any of the money raised.
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Calderon is in U.S. immigration custody and is facing a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to five years for false statements if convicted of the charges.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bass’ office for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dem-mayor-mocked-pushing-ice-kidnapping-story-ended-up-being-hoax