Sanctuary cities have been a divisive topic for the better half of the year, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Florida Republicans maintain their opposition to the idea.
Though there are some who support sanctuary cities, news this week involving an illegal immigrant has only heightened the opposition’s argument against sanctuary cities because of the danger their pose.
This week, news broke of Alejandro Maldonado-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant who was illegally racing and crashed into a car in Oregon, killing Janice Ator and seriously injuring her husband, Patrick Ator.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a news statement this week that Alejandro was arrested on July 12. He was released from the hospital with minor injuries, booked into the Washington County Jail, charged with felony manslaughter in the second degree, felony assault in the third degree and misdemeanor reckless driving.
ICE informed that officers lodged an immigration detainer on July 16th, but by August 8th the jail had failed to honor it and Alejandro posted bail. In turn, he fled to Mexico to avoid persecution.
Nathalie Asher, the Seattle field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, expressed in a statement that “it is a real slap in the face to the victim’s friends and family when criminal aliens, in this case a man who has caused the death of a woman and severe injuries to her husband, are released into the community due to dangerous sanctuary policies.” As well, she questioned, “how many lives have to be lost before politicians are more concerned about public safety than their own political agendas?”
Alejandro remains at large, and three people have been arrested in connection to helping him flee the country.
In June, Governor DeSantis signed into law SB 168, which bans Sanctuary cities in the sunshine state.
