Federal immigration authorities have requested that South Carolina law enforcement hold a Mexican national charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a teenager in Greenville.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer with Greenville County officials on July 26 for Nemecio Aguilar-Hernandez following his arrest by local police.
The charges stem from a July 22 incident in which 17-year-old Jose Martinez was struck while riding his skateboard. Police said the driver fled the scene after hitting the teenager. Officers arrested Aguilar-Hernandez the following day and charged him with hit-and-run involving death as well as driving under suspension.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Aguilar-Hernandez has previously been deported from the United States twice.
He was first removed in 2010 after unlawfully entering the country at an unknown time and location. After re-entering the country, he was deported a second time in 2012. DHS officials stated he later returned to the U.S. illegally a third time.
Records provided by federal authorities show Aguilar-Hernandez was arrested twice for driving under the influence of liquor in 2009 and 2010, resulting in a DUI conviction in 2012.
In a press release, DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis called on local authorities to honor the immigration hold.
“This criminal illegal alien hit a 17-year-old skateboarder with his car and fled the scene of the accident,” Bis said in the statement. “This illegal alien should have NEVER been in our country. He had already been deported from our country TWICE in the past and has a prior conviction for driving under the influence. DHS is asking officials in South Carolina to not release this illegal alien from jail and to cooperate with ICE so that we can remove him from our country.”
Aguilar-Hernandez remains in custody in Greenville County pending legal proceedings.
READ: Four Non-Citizens Charged In New Jersey Following Voter Fraud Investigation
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