UPDATE 10/10:
25 News confirmed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that the Killeen ISD employee arrested on Oct. 3 is an undocumented person who had come into the U.S. illegally six times and falsely claimed she was in the country legally and authorized to work in the school district.
An ICE spokesperson says Ofelia Negrete Arriaga, a 57-year-old woman, deceived school board members, parents students and taxpayers by falsely claiming she was in the U.S. legally, and that a tip from a concerned citizen led to her arrest.
Killeen ISD says Negrete Arriaga was a custodian at Harker Heights High School.
Below is the full statement from ICE:
"For nearly 17 years, Ofelia Negrete Arriaga, a 57-year-old criminal alien from Mexico who has illegally entered the U.S. six times, deceived school board members, parents, students, and taxpayers by falsely claiming she was in the U.S. legally and authorized to work in our schools. Thanks to a tip from a concerned citizen, her lies were uncovered and she is no longer in position of trust where she could potentially endanger our children.
On Oct. 3, in conjunction with the KISD Police Department, ICE executed a warrant for Negrete’s arrest, and she was safely taken into custody without impacting the school’s operations or students. Following the arrest, ICE transferred Negrete to the U.S. Marshals Service to be prosecuted for illegal reentry. An investigation remains ongoing into suspected criminal conduct related to Negrete’s actions to secure her position with KISD."
ORIGINAL 10/8:
A Killeen Independent School District employee was arrested Oct. 3 on a federal felony warrant related to falsifying employment paperwork, according to a press release from the district.
The district said the matter is not related to student or staff safety and that KISD police assisted federal authorities in executing the warrant "as legally required."
According to the press release, KISD police and human resources staff "worked to handle the situation appropriately and with care for the individual involved, including helping the employee contact family and coordinating the retrieval of personal items before the arrest."
The district said it cannot share additional details because it is a personnel matter.
"Killeen ISD remains focused on maintaining a safe, supportive learning environment for every student and ensuring our schools are places where all children can learn, grow, and thrive," the district said in its statement.
In the press release, the district directed additional inquiries on this matter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs.
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