Federal immigration authorities have asked a western Pennsylvania county jail to hold a Venezuelan national accused of hitting a child with her car and fleeing the scene, the Department of Homeland Security announced.
The crash happened on August 23 in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, located in Washington County. According to local police reports, a pre-teen boy was crossing the street when a speeding vehicle struck him. The driver took off immediately following the impact.
Authorities said the suspect, identified as Yorgelis Alexandra Matos-Bravo, returned to the scene a short time later after her brothers urged her to go back. Once on scene, she admitted to officers that she had hit the boy. Emergency personnel treated the child, who officials confirmed is expected to survive his injuries.
Charleroi Regional Police took Matos-Bravo into custody and filed seven charges against her: aggravated assault of a victim under 13, recklessly endangering another person, an accident involving damage to a vehicle or property, disorderly conduct, reckless driving, careless driving, and speeding.
Following the arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer with the Washington County Jail on August 26, requesting local custody officials notify federal agents before any potential release.
Investigators determined that Matos-Bravo entered the United States without authorization through Texas in July 2022 before being released into the country by federal border officials. Records also showed she was carrying a valid driver’s license issued by the state of Illinois.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a statement on the incident, linking the crash to state and federal immigration policies.
“This criminal illegal alien now faces SEVEN charges after a hit-and-run that injured a young child in Pennsylvania. She would not have been in our country in the first place if it weren’t for the Biden Administration’s open borders, and she wouldn’t have been on our roads if it weren’t for J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary Illinois issuing her a driver’s license,” Mullin said. “This was a completely avoidable crime that was enabled by the reckless, America Last policies of sanctuary politicians. ICE has lodged a detainer asking officials in Washington County to cooperate with us and make sure this criminal is never released onto our streets again. I’m praying for the boy’s speedy recovery.”
Matos-Bravo remains held in Washington County pending local court proceedings and the resolution of the federal detainer request.
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