A fatal hit-and-run accident in Dana Point, California, on Friday has resulted in the arrest of a Mexican national who authorities say was living unlawfully in the U.S. and had previously been released into the country by the Obama administration.
Humberto Munoz-Gatica was arrested by the Santa Ana Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly struck 71-year-old Barry William Tutt and fled the scene. Tutt was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Local law enforcement had responded to reports of a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in Dana Point, Calif., and witnesses identified a silver Ford sedan that hit Tutt before fleeing, leading deputies to Munoz-Gatica.
Following the arrest, the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, issued a statement revealing details about Munoz-Gatica’s immigration history.
“On November 8, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for Humberto Munoz-Gatica, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, after he was arrested by the Santa Ana Sheriff’s Office and charged with driving under the influence and hit and run,” McLaughlin said. She added that Munoz-Gatica has been living unlawfully in the U.S. for nearly two decades.
According to the DHS statement, Munoz-Gatica initially entered the U.S. on a tourist visa that expired in August 2008. He was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying his visa in January 2011. “The Obama administration then RELEASED him into the country,” McLaughlin stated. The DHS official also noted that his rap sheet includes a prior conviction for grand theft.
McLaughlin criticized California’s status as a sanctuary state: “Unfortunately, Gavin Newsom’s California is a sanctuary state and does not cooperate with ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement].”
She concluded by asserting, “This is yet another example of sanctuary and open border policies putting American lives at risk.”
This incident comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and California over immigration enforcement.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) includes the Golden State in its list of sanctuary jurisdictions and previously filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles over its sanctuary policies, alleging that the refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities led to widespread unrest over the summer.
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