**Georgia Police Officer Resigns After Wrongful Arrest Leads to Teenager's Immigration Detention**

A Georgia police officer, Leslie O'Neal, has resigned after a wrongful arrest that led a 19-year-old college student, Ximena Arias-Cristobal, to spend over two weeks in a federal immigration facility and face potential deportation. O'Neal, who served in Dalton, a small city located north of Atlanta, made the decision to leave after the controversy surrounding the incident sparked widespread criticism and anger within the community.

The incident began on May 5th when O'Neal pulled over Arias-Cristobal, accusing her of making an improper turn. This charge was later dropped after it was revealed that the police had mistaken her vehicle for another. Despite the dismissal of charges, Arias-Cristobal, who is undocumented and was driving with a Mexican license, was transferred to an immigration jail following the involvement of local authorities and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Arias-Cristobal, who entered the United States from Mexico in 2007 at the age of four, narrowly missed qualifying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which would have provided her with some protections against deportation. During her arrest, she expressed her distress to Officer O'Neal, mentioning her upcoming final exams and her family's reliance on her.

The case attracted national attention, drawing support from many who rallied for her release and called for changes in local law enforcement practices. A GoFundMe campaign set up for her legal defense managed to raise over $90,000, indicating the level of public support.

However, the response was not unanimous. Far-right figures, including Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, called for Arias-Cristobal's deportation. This contrast highlights the nation's polarizing views on immigration, especially in the wake of increased enforcement policies during Donald Trump's presidency.

Dalton's police department remained silent on the specifics behind O'Neal's resignation. However, O'Neal’s wife posted his resignation letter on Facebook, in which he cited a lack of support from the department amidst "widespread defamation" as his reason for stepping down. He indicated that this environment made it difficult for him to perform his duties without fearing further backlash from the community.

The local Whitfield County sheriff's office, which manages the jail in Dalton, has a 287(g) agreement with ICE, allowing local law enforcement to conduct immigration enforcement operations. This collaboration has been criticized by immigration advocacy groups like the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, which argue these partnerships lead to racial profiling and terrorizing of immigrant communities.

Meanwhile, Arias-Cristobal’s father, José Arias-Tovar, had also been detained by ICE for a speeding violation weeks earlier. He was released on bond on May 16th, and Arias-Cristobal also managed to secure her release by paying a $1,500 bond on May 21st. Her attorney, Dustin Baxter, stated they are committed to fighting for her to remain in the United States permanently.

The facility where Arias-Cristobal was detained, Stewart Detention Center, remains controversial. Operated by CoreCivic under a contract with ICE, the private detention center in Lumpkin, Georgia, has faced numerous accusations of violating detainees' rights and maintaining poor conditions.

This incident has underscored the complexities and human impact of stringent immigration enforcement policies and the far-reaching consequences of missteps by law enforcement officials.