Cuban Immigrant Faces Charges of Child Abuse and Arson

A Cuban immigrant, Meliza Campos-Sanchez, is facing serious legal charges including child abuse, child neglect, and arson. Authorities have accused her of pouring hot wax on one of her young daughters and starting a fire in her Miami home.

Campos-Sanchez has been charged with two counts of child neglect and one count of child abuse stemming from an August 16 incident. A court-ordered mental competency evaluation has been mandated in her case.

Incident Details

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of an intentional fire inside a kitchen. They learned that Campos, a social media influencer with 87,000 Instagram followers, uploaded videos showing her pouring melted candle wax on herself and on the hands of at least one of her daughters. In another video, she allegedly danced and sang in the kitchen before setting clothes on fire with a lighter.

According to the complaint, the two girls were 3 and 6 years old.

The complaint states that Campos allegedly reassured the children not to be scared before placing hot candle wax on one daughter’s hand. The affidavit mentioned that the child did not have visible injuries. Additionally, one child reportedly informed an arson detective that their mother burned clothing, creating a fire while they were inside the home.

Legal and Immigration Consequences

Following her arrest, officers did not interview Campos as she was sedated. The Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer with the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center the day after her arrest. They requested local officials to inform federal authorities prior to her release so ICE could detain her.

According to ICE, Campos entered the United States illegally in May 2022 via Florida during the Biden administration. A DHS spokesperson criticized the administration’s border policies, suggesting they allowed such individuals to enter the country.

Court Proceedings and Mental Health Evaluation

At her initial court appearance, Campos’ defense requested a competency evaluation. The judge ordered evaluations by two Spanish-speaking doctors.

Campos’ husband expressed concerns about her mental health, stating he had previously sought help and contacted the police. Family members revealed she had been prescribed medication but stopped taking it, raising further concerns about her mental well-being.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Campos’ court-appointed attorney for comments, but no statement has been provided.