The White House on Friday sparked debate online after sharing a Ghibli-style inspired image of convicted fentanyl trafficker Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, who was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week.
The post shared on X, responded to an earlier White House update about her detention, showing the arrest of the teary eyed immigrant.
Basora-Gonzalez, a 36-year-old Dominican national, was taken into custody in Philadelphia on 12 March during a joint operation involving ICE, the US marshals service, and the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives. She was arrested on charges of re-entering the US illegally after being deported in 2020.
The White House’s post sparked mixed reactions, with some criticising it for mocking the immigrant, while others backed the arrest of the fentanyl trafficker.
“It’s one thing to go after criminals, it’s another to make a show of and delight in the sadness and suffering of others. You’re sociopaths and you belong in prison,” wrote one user.
“Memes & influencers (disproportionally Jewish) pushing out low grade cartoons from the official White House account?” another pointed out.
“This woman kills strangers without consequence, and the top replies are scolding white house for taking her off the streets? even accounts i used to respect. wild how many people here are this naive,” said another.
“But people are worried about a cartoon hurting the feelings of a known fentanyl pusher who illegally came into this country to profit from poisoning people… again?” defended one user.
Basora-Gonzalez was first arrested in Pennsylvania in 2019 for attempting to distribute fentanyl and aiding a crime. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. However, she was deported to the Dominican Republic in October 2020 before completing her sentence.
Despite her removal, she managed to return to the US at an unknown date. ICE officials were alerted to her presence after receiving a tip-off on 7 March. She was arrested outside La Tierra Del Caribe Restaurant in North Philadelphia, where she allegedly worked as a cook.
Her court-appointed attorney argued that she should not be detained before trial, stating that illegal re-entry alone did not make her a flight risk. However, the government countered that her prior conviction and deportation “cement the conclusion that pretrial detention is required.”
The White House has yet to issue a statement addressing the controversy.
