Major county sheriff rejects ICE detainer on illegal immigrant who allegedly killed young boy in hit-and-run
In a tragic incident that has sparked heated debate over immigration policy, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office declined to honor a detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for Hector Balderas-Aheelor, a Mexican national accused of a felony hit-and-run that resulted in the death of 11-year-old Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz. The incident occurred on Thanksgiving morning when Aiden, who had run into the street to fetch a soccer ball, was struck by Balderas-Aheelor’s vehicle, which then fled the scene. Despite being arrested shortly after, Balderas-Aheelor’s immigration detainer was rejected by the Sheriff’s Office, citing compliance with California’s “California Values Act” that limits local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The rejection of the ICE detainer has prompted significant backlash, particularly from officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed outrage, emphasizing the tragedy of Aiden’s death and criticizing California’s sanctuary laws for potentially allowing Balderas-Aheelor to evade accountability. She highlighted that Balderas-Aheelor had been removed from the United States four times prior to this incident, raising concerns about the implications of repeated illegal reentries and the responsibilities of local law enforcement in such cases. McLaughlin’s comments reflect a broader national conversation about the intersection of immigration policy and public safety, particularly in states with sanctuary laws.
In response to the controversy, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office maintained that the state does not obstruct federal enforcement actions and that the responsibility for apprehending Balderas-Aheelor lies with the federal government. Spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo reiterated that California law does not prevent federal authorities from acting on their warrants and emphasized the need for accountability in this tragic case. As the community mourns the loss of a young life, this incident underscores the complexities and challenges surrounding immigration enforcement, public safety, and local law enforcement practices in a politically charged environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPMarO9op-U
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office rejected an
immigration detainer
by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a criminal illegal immigrant allegedly responsible for a felony hit-and-run that resulted in the death of an 11-year-old boy Thanksgiving morning.
In a statement Dec. 2, the Department of Homeland Security said it had filed a detainer request for Mexican illegal Hector Balderas-Aheelor, after his arrest for a felony hit-and-run that killed 11-year-old Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz.
A spokesperson for the
San Diego Sheriff’s Office
told Fox News Digital it received the detainer request for Balderas-Aheelor, also known as Hector Amador Balderas, on Nov. 29. The spokesperson said, in accordance with California law, “a review of the criminal history was conducted, and the Immigration Detainer was rejected.”
It added that the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office “complies with the
California Values Act
” and directed Fox News Digital to an information page on the law that said, “The Sheriff’s Office does not hold individuals based on federal detainer warrants.”
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ABC San Diego reported that Balderas-Aheelor was arrested Saturday in the death of Torres De Paz in Escondido. The outlet said the child had run into the street to retrieve a soccer ball when he was hit, and the driver sped off. Torres De Paz died in the hospital from his injuries on Thanksgiving Day.
Balderas-Aheelor was
previously removed from the United States
four times, according to DHS.
Commenting on the case, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “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.
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“Hector Balderas-Aheelor was previously removed FOUR times before he chose to commit a felony and illegally reenter the country a fifth time,” she continued. “Now, sanctuary laws threaten to put this killer back onto California’s streets.”
McLaughlin called on California Democratic Gov.
Gavin Newsom
“to do the right thing and honor ICE’s arrest detainer.”
In response, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Newsom, told Fox News Digital “nothing prohibits the federal government from doing its job in this case,” and “this driver needs to be held responsible for the tragic hit-and-run.”
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“Unlawfully returning to the United States after deportation is a federal criminal offense and California honors federal criminal warrants,” Crofts-Pelayo added. “The federal government admits a failure to apprehend the suspect when he unlawfully entered the U.S. California law does not prevent them from acting now.”
