A Guatemalan man of short stature, Cristian Soto-Galeano, was recently apprehended in New Orleans by officers from Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). The arrest photo, which shows a significant height difference between Soto-Galeano and the arresting officer, quickly gained attention online. Soto-Galeano, who was seen smiling in the photo, was previously convicted of indecent behavior with a juvenile, according to ICE.
The arresting officer, whose back was turned to the camera, towered over Soto-Galeano, who was handcuffed at both his wrists and ankles. The image was shared by ICE New Orleans, who noted Soto-Galeano’s criminal history and his two-year prison sentence. The local ICE field office humorously commented on the situation, stating they are prepared to face any challenge, regardless of size.
While it remains unclear whether Soto-Galeano was in the U.S. illegally, it is expected that he will be deported following his prison sentence. ICE has yet to comment on his current status in the country.
The arrest photo sparked a flurry of online comments, with many users making light of the situation. Some joked about Soto-Galeano’s height, which is noticeably shorter than the average height of 5 feet 4 inches for Guatemalan men, as reported by Business Insider.
This is not the first time an arrest photo has caused a stir online. Last month, a photo of a Mexican migrant, Diego Hernandez, being arrested in San Diego also gained attention. Hernandez, who was wearing a “South Park” t-shirt, was arrested for previous drunk driving convictions and repeated illegal entries into the U.S. He is expected to be deported back to Mexico, according to ICE San Diego.
The photo of Hernandez, who appeared downcast with his gaze directed towards the ground, sparked speculation about the positioning of the female ICE agent in the image. Hernandez’s shirt, featuring the “South Park” character Eric Cartman, ironically read “What-ever! I do what I want.”