Illegal Immigrant Deported Four Times Charged in Fatal Colorado Crash

Tragedy highlights concern over a secure border

DENVER, COL - According to the Daily Caller, In a tragic incident in Colorado, a man who had entered the U.S. illegally and had been deported four times is now facing charges of vehicular homicide after allegedly causing a fatal crash. Jose Guadalupe Menjivar-Alas, a 37-year-old from El Salvador, has been accused of crashing his vehicle on December 12, resulting in the death of 47-year-old Melissa Powell and her 16-year-old son, Riordan, according to information provided by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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Menjivar-Alas had managed to enter the country undetected initially and had been deported four times before the tragic incident occurred. The accused faces charges of vehicular homicide reckless, vehicular homicide DUI, and habitual traffic offender. Notably, he had four convictions for alcohol-related driving offenses between 2007 and 2019, as revealed by ICE.

Despite his criminal record, Menjivar-Alas had been sentenced to probation, community service, and work release just four days prior to the fatal crash, as per information from CBS News. His previous convictions did not deter him from allegedly causing the accident that claimed the lives of the mother and son.

The incident has sparked criticism of sanctuary policies in Colorado, with retired ICE Denver Field Office Director John Fabbricatore, who is also running for Congress, asserting that these policies contribute to an increase in crimes committed by illegal aliens. Fabbricatore highlighted the failure of sanctuary policies, stating that they allowed a convicted criminal to remain in local communities while avoiding notifying ICE.

ICE Denver has lodged a detainer with Broomfield County to seek Menjivar-Alas's arrest. Records indicate that he had been deported in June 2009, June 2012, November 2014, and January 2015. The ICE spokesperson emphasized that the agency routinely targets and arrests noncitizens who commit crimes, emphasizing that all individuals in violation of U.S. immigration law may face arrest, detention, and potential removal from the United States.

The incident has reignited debates about immigration policies and the need for a secure border, with critics arguing that stricter measures could have potentially prevented this tragic loss of life. The call to end sanctuary policies has gained momentum, fueled by concerns for the safety of citizens.