Fact-check analysisVerified as of July 12, 2025Curated by FactVerify
Mostly True

Eric Swalwell : ICE has arrested a 6-yr old with cancer. And now it's arrested a 71-yr old Grandmother - Barbara Stone.

ICE has detained a 6-year-old boy with leukemia and separately detained Barbara Stone, a 71-year-old U.S. Citizen grandmother, at immigration courts, though the circumstances and legal contexts differ.

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Source: factverify.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified July 12, 2025
The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim consists of two main components: first, that ICE arrested a 6-year-old child with cancer, and second, that ICE arrested a 71-year-old grandmother named Barbara Stone. Regarding the first component, multiple credible sources confirm that ICE detained a 6-year-old boy battling leukemia at an immigration court in Los Angeles. The boy's mother has filed a lawsuit alleging inadequate medical care and violations of their rights during detention.theguardian.comtheguardian.comMother arrested at LA court alongside six-year-old son with cancer sues Icetpr.orgtpr.orgICE arrested a 6-year-old boy with leukemia at immigration court. His family is... This confirms the factual basis of the claim about the child’s detention.

The second component concerns Barbara Stone, a 71-year-old grandmother and U.S. Citizen who was handcuffed and detained by ICE agents at a San Diego immigration court. Reports indicate she was accused of pushing an ICE officer, which she denies, and no charges were filed against her. The incident lasted several hours and raised concerns about ICE's conduct and potential intimidation tactics.nbcsandiego.comnbcsandiego.comICE handcuffs 71-year-old grandmother, a U.S. citizen, at San Diego immigration...nbcnews.comnbcnews.comICE handcuffs 71-year-old grandmother, a U.S. citizen, at San Diego immigration...newsweek.comnewsweek.comICE Agents Arrest 71-Year-Old US Citizen in California: 'Traumatized'ktla.comktla.comICE detains boy, 6, battling leukemia inside L.A. courthouse; mother suing for... While the claim uses the word "arrested," the context is that she was detained and handcuffed at a courthouse; she is a U.S. Citizen and was not charged with a crime.

The claim as stated by Eric Swalwell is broadly accurate in reporting these two detentions by ICE involving vulnerable individuals at immigration courts. However, it lacks nuance regarding Barbara Stone’s citizenship status and the nature of her detention (not a formal arrest leading to charges). The child’s detention is part of ongoing legal challenges to ICE’s courthouse arrest policies.

In summary, both parts of the claim are supported by credible evidence but require contextual understanding to avoid misleading impressions about the legal status and outcomes for those involved.

Primary trail

Verified Sources6

Mother arrested at LA court alongside six-year-old son with cancer sues Ice

theguardian.com
Open source

ICE handcuffs 71-year-old grandmother, a U.S. citizen, at San Diego immigration...

nbcsandiego.com
Open source

ICE handcuffs 71-year-old grandmother, a U.S. citizen, at San Diego immigration...

nbcnews.com
Open source
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