Progressives Slam National Mall Arrest — Until the Full Story Emerges
“I didn’t know he was – the DHS memo on him came out hours after the video. Wouldn’t ever defend such a person!”
Wailing and gnashing of liberal teeth could be heard from our nation’s capital on Wednesday after police and federal agents detained an illegal immigrant on the National Mall. In the video below, the man exited his car as instructed and appeared calm. But inexplicably, a couple of seconds later, outnumbered by agents six to one, he tried to run away. As he was tackled to the ground by the officers, he cried out in Spanish, “Please, I’m not a criminal, I work here. I want to be with my family.”
NBC News reported that as he was placed inside an unmarked vehicle, he screamed, “My family has papers! My family and my children! Please! Please!”
BREAKING: Just saw DC Police + federal agents detain a man on the National Mall. He appeared to try to escape, then was quickly tackled to the ground by several agents + was screaming in Spanish “please, I’m not a criminal, I work here, I want to be with my family” @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/56IlXEvYbN
— Aimee Cho (@AimeeCho4) August 20, 2025
It was quite a scene to say the least. The sound of this poor man’s anguish caused critics of President Donald Trump’s push to restore law and order in Washington, D.C., to lose their minds. And, rather than waiting to learn why he had been detained, video of his arrest went viral on social media.
Responding to Cho’s post on Instagram, one woman wrote, “’Yo no debo nada’, ‘I don’t owe anything.’ – A brown man pleading, for his humanity, for his dignity, stating he is not a criminal, is law abiding, works, is a family man. Just wants to be safe with his family. In his home.”
Another replied, “If you can watch this and not feel your heart being ripped out of your chest, you’re dead inside.”
“We are literally watching kidnappings,” wrote a third.
Perhaps the most reckless response came from Fox News’ token liberal, Jessica Tarlov, who attached the arrest video in a since-deleted post on X, along with the caption, “This doesn’t make D.C. safer. It’ll just make people not come to D.C. The cruelty is always the point.”
[I’ll return to Tarlov’s unfortunate tweet in a moment.]
Simply put, they thought they had found their next George Floyd or Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
But just as the progressive condemnation party had reached its peak, Cho posted an update. ICE had issued a statement which said that David Perez-Teofani, a Mexican national, was detained because he has entered the U.S. illegally three times and has a final order of removal.
Worse, Perez-Teofani was arrested in Fairfax County, Virginia, in January 2024, and charged with aggravated sexual battery against a minor under the age of 13.
UPDATE: ICE has sent a statement on this man’s detention, saying his name is David Perez-Teofani and that he was arrested in Fairfax County in 2024 and charged with aggravated sexual battery against a minor under 13 @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/KOhxoBnXDD
— Aimee Cho (@AimeeCho4) August 20, 2025
This illegal alien from Mexico was previously arrested in January 2024 in Fairfax County for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13.
He entered and had a final order of removal and chose to voluntary return- twice. Illegally entered 3 times.
Thank you to law enforcement…
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) August 20, 2025
Now it was the Republicans’ turn to pounce. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller asked Tarlov why she was defending a criminal illegal alien invader charged with sexually assaulting a child.
This you Jessica? pic.twitter.com/ldDFaihhih
— 🔥Fire Newz (@FireNewz) August 21, 2025
Tarlov replied to Miller that she “didn’t know he was” charged with sexually assaulting a child when she posted her tweet and said she would delete it.
I didn’t know he was – the DHS memo on him came out hours after the video. Wouldn’t ever defend such a person! Hopefully you guys will only go after these types versus hardworking folks that have committed no crimes! Will delete my original tweet.
— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) August 20, 2025
After replying to Miller, she posted a new tweet to explain why she had deleted her original tweet.
For those of you who think that I quietly deleted my tweet, see below. When you’re trying to be quiet you don’t reply to Stephen Miller. I wouldn’t ever want to promote knowingly wrong information so I deleted the original tweet after the DHS memo came out – which was hours after… https://t.co/n4DbqQxMhc
— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) August 20, 2025
That’s all well and good Jessica, but here’s a thought: why don’t you and your bleeding-heart friends make it your business to get the facts straight before you shoot from the hip?
Every time outrage erupts before anyone stops to ask the most basic questions, the result isn’t clarity — it’s chaos. These media-driven frenzies, amplified by knee-jerk reactions and social media echo chambers, don’t just spread misinformation; they inflame divisions, harden mistrust, and in the worst cases, light the match for real unrest.
History has shown again and again that a rush to judgment can carry dangerous consequences. If the goal is justice and truth, then the first responsibility is patience, discipline, and a willingness to wait for facts instead of feeding the flames.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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Comments
Tarlov: “I didn’t know he was – the DHS memo on him came out hours after the video. Wouldn’t ever defend such a person!”
Reagan: “It isn’t so much that liberals are ignorant. It’s just that they know so many things that aren’t so.”
“Wouldn’t ever defend such a person.”
She needs to define ‘ever’.
because, yes she did.
At least in print, one isn’t subjected to her voice. She must gargle with Draino.
I hope she appears on the Five today. It’ll be fun to watch her get torched by Jesse and Greg!
More popcorn!
I think Tarlov is cute. But her crazy defense of Democrat extremism does not change minds. Harold Ford Jr’s ability to call out liberal stupidity and his obvious love for his country has a much, much greater impact on viewers.
Jessica Tarlov, as she and so many liberals ALWAYS do, saw a brown man screaming, and it reenforced her would view.
If you are constantly looking for racism (as she is), everything will appear to be racist.
As a racist liberal, she thinks that brown & black people are inferior, and need white liberals to stand up for them.
So many other liberals need to learn to wait until they have all the details – then they can issue their opinion – if they still want to.
Sorry Jessica. You ALREADY defended a child molester, you sick demented pervert!
Your ignorance is no excuse in your hurry to denigrate those protecting young girls from rape. Walking on the backs of rape victims to claim your moral superiority only proves you have no morals.
So yeah, keep walking on the backs of raped children and quietly crawl away after the lights are turned on and expose you for the cockroach you are.
Sexual assault of a minor under 13?
Aww it’s just taking him some time to assimilate to our culture, that’s all.
And now he can “assimilate” to that part of our culture populated by such luminaries as “Knuckles” and “Slice”.
For those who don’t know: even hardened convicted criminals DO NOT LIKE child molesters.
And child molesters do not have a very long life expectancy when put into the prison’s general population. Knuckles and slice see to that.
He was just following in the footsteps of mohammed.
Like that Chinese lady who stuffed cash in a potato chip bag and tried to brine a reporter or the Muslim who tried to kill his daughter because she was not all in on an arranged marriage they are just harmless and clueless immigrants
I’m sure DHS has been *very* careful, knowing that any flub will become national news. Even so, people have the memory retention of a goldfish, and the screaming headlines and broadcast stories will stick in their minds while the quiet muttered corrections will drift past and vanish. The Left knows that, so don’t expect them to start examining these cases before going into their frothing and screeching.
And a reminder to everyone why outrage should be contained for 24-48 hours.
Also a reminder that “eyewitnesses” are often very unreliable.
This is what ever single illegal alien should face…going about their day when suddenly Federal agents subdue and arrest them in preparation for deportation. Doesn’t matter if the illegal aliens have been here five minutes or five decades, they entered and/or remained unlawfully. Start putting ICE in the post office and SSA offices. Start sending ICE teams to busy ER waiting rooms. Significantly ramp up workplace enforcement and prosecute the employer if it is determined they didn’t scrupulously adhere to verification and reporting requirements for I-9 forms. If the employer paid under the table avoiding Fed income and SSA taxes, workman comp IN then charge them, use civil asset forfeiture for the more egregious cases. IOW make it far too hot, too uncertain for illegal aliens to feel anything other than fearful of arrest and deportation. They should always be looking over their shoulder. They could always avoid this by voluntarily going home on Uncle Sam’s dime with a $1K in their pocket and retain eligibility to apply for lawful entry in the future.
Univision news didn’t mention his criminal record last night. Instead they sent a reporter to his mommy’s jacal in the state of Tabasco, Mejico.
During the interview about her unwed, childless son, she asked that narco Presidenta Claudia stop ICE from sending him back to Mejico….
Baloney. I don’t give a hot damn if he’s a criminal. He’s here illegally, using our hospitals, roads, grocery stores, housing.
Deport him and quit justifying it by saying he’s a criminal. Whatever. Get them OUT!
If they crossed the border without official permission, they are criminals because of that crossing. All the s**t they do once they are here just provides additional counts on the indictment. It is not complicated.
He has a final removal order — that’s enough. Get him out. If a take down in the national mall is necessary to get him out, then take him down.
The linked article says the charges of aggravated sexual assault were dropped because the victim didn’t show up to pursue the case. Ok but David Perez-Teofani has a final order of removal, and ICE was simply doing their job. If he’s legit, then why did he run? The answer is obvious. The Mexican government, and all too many Mexicans don’t recognize the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They think they have every right, both moral and legal, to enter and live in Texas, California and the Southwest. Teofani simply doesn’t recognize the laws of the US, and he has a Fifth Column of support from many Americans, including politicians and companies. While Trump is infinitely better than his predecessors with regard to the ongoing invasion of the US, I think he needs to be more aggressive. Tell the president of Mexico that he will embargo remittances to Mexico is she keeps up her current polices and rhetoric. Tell the illegal aliens in the US with removal orders that they risk getting shot if they resist capture. If that doesn’t work, then put a bounty on illegal aliens. Let citizen militias round them up with lethal force if necessary. Give the left something to complain about. When parents used to discipline their kids, they would respond to the whining with “I’ll give you something to cry about.”
The foreign invasion, with the risk of the denationalization, presents a very serious problem which requires an extreme solution.
May I add a possible lever on Mexico? In 2020 the old NAFTA agreement was replaced by the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement [USMCA] for the free trade area. One of the provisions in it is that it is subject to review by each country every 6 years. That would be next year. I’m sure that something could be done with that. Just for the record in this discussion in case it comes up, the overall agreement has a 16 year sunset clause [2036], but can be extended by agreement of all parties at each 6 year review for a further 16 years. We are not obligated beyond 2026.
Subotai Bahadur
Or use the expiration of the water treaties with Mexico and/or withhold/impound the water. There’s something like 3-5 (as I recall) worth of their allotment of water that Mexico has taken above what they are entitled to.
Or the Feds could simply conduct thorough inspections of every commercial truck and in depth inspection of passenger vehicle and pedestrian traffic across the various bridges at ports of entry. Then TX could conduct their own State level inspections.
browns and blacks and whites etc ALL PLEAD FOR THEIR LIVES WHEN THE REAL CRIMINALS are attacking them
and the left just says ….crime is everywheres ..not a big issue
until it happens to them or their loved ones
maga!
So, when does Jessica apologize for that “The cruelty is always the point” crack?
Hello? Jessica?
Aggravated sexual battery against a minor under the age of 13?
Cut his balls off, give him a Band-Aid (generic, of course), and air drop him (parachute optional) onto the Mexican President’s lawn.
His mistake was not yelling the magic phrase
I can’t breath
That is guaranteed to stop the cops and they’ll let you go.
Give Bill Gates authority to test his latest vaccines on these people.
The very idea that someone arrested while yelling “I’m not a criminal!” is sufficient proof that he, in fact, is being wrongfully detained, is mind-boggling.
Do these progressives really think people arrested invariably tell the truth?
If they are part of the victim classes, then yes. “Believe all women.” Also, evidently, “Believe all black people (except white supremacist ones)” and “Believe all those claiming to be a woman” and “Believe all non-English speakers.”
As I was going to comment, as well: If you’re innocent, why are you running? Why are you fighting?
“’Yo no debo nada”
Educational — now I know the Spanish equivalent for “Dindu Nuffin.”
And when you;re trying to be right you don’t jump in with both feet assuming something ridiculous in order to score partisan virtue points.
But you be you, Jessica.
All people that are in this country illegally have committed a crime and should be arrested and deported no matter their length of time. People that push illegals staying need to wake up and realize the citizens of the USA need more from all politicians and media.
Why is the assumption that law enforcement is always in the wrong because person they are taking into custody:
1 Resists.
2 Shouts they are innocent
I understand that cops arrest people incorrectly. I understand it happens more often than I would like but on the other hand almost no criminals shout Yes. I did it. Send me to prison or deport me.
I’m a prosecutor. I get to watch hours of body cam of arrests. You know how many criminals insist they’re innocent when the murder they just committed is on video? How many falsely say the handcuffs are too tight? That the police are abusing them when it’s literally on video and no one touched them? And of course, that old classic, how many scream “I can’t breathe” when they’re standing there yelling and… breathing?
I would have to guess a huge percentage of them and that it is very exhausting to watch.
Also when did time traveling 1998 Bill Clinton get hired as LE?
What’s Bill Clinton doing in a police uniform?
Lanceman! That you, bro?
Another article where you answered yourself… kinda:
Q: “…why don’t you and your bleeding-heart friends make it your business to get the facts straight before you shoot from the hip?”
A: “Every time outrage erupts before anyone stops to ask the most basic questions, the result isn’t clarity — it’s chaos. These media-driven frenzies, amplified by knee-jerk reactions and social media echo chambers, don’t just spread misinformation; they inflame divisions, harden mistrust, and in the worst cases, light the match for real unrest.
History has shown again and again that a rush to judgment can carry dangerous consequences.”
Full stop.
But you continue: “If the goal is justice and truth, then the first responsibility is patience, discipline, and a willingness to wait for facts instead of feeding the flames.”
Elizabeth, my dear, the goal is neither truth nor justice. The goal is quite clearly chaos. And to get there, they start with misinformation, division, distrust, and danger.
There are several good books on the subject. For two recent ones, Jesse Kelly’s “The Anti-Communist Manifesto” and Jack Posobiec’s “Unhumans” (both available on audio, I might add) are excellent reads.
I think it’s time we stop trying to “make sense” for the communist insurgent to “learn” from. They certainly have intention neither of learning nor of returning the favor.
Btw, Elizabeth, I believe you are an excellent writer and I truly appreciate the work you do. Thank you for another well-researched and -written piece.