Immigration Officers Detain Mom Accused of Leaving Toddler Alone in Van

Immigration officials have taken into custody a mother who is accused of leaving her 16-month-old baby girl alone in a van with the windows up in East Windsor Monday.

East Windsor police arrested the child’s mother, Gloria Sanchez-Cerritos, 22, of New Britain, and Gloria Sanchez-Cerritos’ brother, Juan Sanchez-Cerritos, 30, of New Britain, Monday after the toddler was found alone in a vehicle at Walmart on Prospect Hill Road around 6:30 p.m. Monday.

When police questioned Gloria Sanchez-Cerritos about whether she knew her daughter was in the car, she said “yes,” then commented that the child had just fallen asleep, according to police documents.

Gloria Sanchez-Cerritos and her brother were charged with risk of injury to a child, leaving a child unsupervised in a motor vehicle and reckless endangerment.

Sanchez-Cerritos, who also has three other children, is undocumented and has a detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Officer.

Officials from ICE said deportation officers arrested Gloria Sanchez-Cerritos Tuesday.

“On Aug. 22 ICE deportation officers with the Hartford ICE office arrested Gloria Sanchez-Cerritos, an illegally present citizen of Mexico, following her arrest on local felony charges. Sanchez entered the U.S. legally in 2011, but overstayed her lawful visit by more than five years. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” Shawn Neudauer, public affairs officer for Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a statement.

Gloria Sanchez-Cerritos and her brother are due in court on Sept. 5.

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