ICE has issued an immigration detainer for the suspect but does not expect it to be honored due to California’s sanctuary policies.
A criminal illegal immigrant, who was previously removed from the United States four times, has been arrested over a hit-and-run incident that killed an 11-year-old boy in California, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a Dec. 2 statement.
On Nov. 26, the boy was attempting to retrieve a soccer ball outside his home when he was run over by the vehicle, the department said. The driver, Hector Balderas-Aheelor, a Mexican national, then allegedly sped off, with Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz dying from his injuries on the following Thanksgiving morning.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer for Balderas-Aheelor with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office.
Immigration detainers are ICE requests to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies, such as prisons, to notify the requesting agency before releasing a removable immigrant or hold the person for up to 48 hours beyond the release time so that DHS can take custody.
Although ICE issued a detainer, the agency said it expects that it won’t be honored since California is a sanctuary state.
In sanctuary jurisdictions, local or state officials refuse to enforce federal immigration laws or cooperate with federal immigration authorities. According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) list, 12 states and 18 major local jurisdictions in the country follow sanctuary policies, including California.
“This list is not exhaustive and will be updated as federal authorities gather further information,” a DOJ release said on Aug. 5.
DHS said in its Dec. 2 statement that despite California’s sanctuary laws, the department will continue with its efforts to remove criminals from the streets.
“Thanksgiving should be a day of celebrating family and giving gratitude, but instead the family of Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz mourned this beautiful child’s death because a criminal illegal alien stole his life. Now, sanctuary laws threaten to put this killer back onto California’s streets,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said.
“Hector Balderas-Aheelor was previously removed FOUR times before he chose to commit a felony and illegally re-enter the country a fifth time. Gavin Newsom, we are calling on YOU to do the right thing and honor ICE’s arrest detainer.”
