Washington state authorities released an illegal alien truck driver accused of causing a six-vehicle crash involving a school bus after declining to honor a federal immigration detainer, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The crash occurred on December 4 in Lacey, Washington, and resulted in three people being hospitalized. No children were aboard the school bus at the time, authorities said.
DHS identified the driver as Juan Hernandez-Santos, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who federal officials say has multiple prior DUI arrests and was previously deported from the United States twice.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer requesting that local authorities hold Hernandez-Santos for federal custody, but the request was not honored due to sanctuary policies, DHS said.
According to DHS, Hernandez-Santos was operating an 18-wheeler without a valid commercial driver’s license when the truck struck another vehicle, triggering the multi-car collision.
“This dangerous illegal alien has a criminal history including multiple DUIs, possessing a controlled substance, and two prior removals from the U.S.,” said Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin in a DHS news release. “He was a walking public safety threat and illegally was driving a massive 18-wheeler when he caused a six-car pile-up involving a school bus on the highway in Washington.”
“Thankfully, no children were in the bus,” McLaughlin added. “This story could have had a very different tragic ending. The sanctuary politicians in Washington failed once again to protect American citizens by refusing to honor our ICE arrest detainer.”
Federal immigration records show U.S. Border Patrol first removed Hernandez-Santos to Mexico in February 2005. He later reentered the United States illegally and was removed again in June 2006. DHS said he subsequently reentered the country a third time at an unknown date and location.
DHS also outlined a criminal history spanning more than a decade. In May 2008, Hernandez-Santos was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office for driving without a license. One month later, he was arrested in California for driving under the influence and a hit-and-run involving property damage.
In November 2018, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance. The Los Angeles Police Department arrested him again for DUI in February 2020, DHS said.
Federal officials cited the Washington crash as part of what they described as a broader public safety concern involving illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles without proper licensing or legal status.
DHS pointed to recent enforcement actions as evidence of what officials describe as a broader public safety issue. In an October 30 announcement, Secretary Kristi Noem said a 287(g) enforcement effort known as Operation Midway Blitz resulted in the arrest of 223 illegal aliens along Indiana highways near the Illinois state line, including 146 truck drivers.
According to DHS, criminal activity associated with those arrested included driving under the influence, drug trafficking, theft, burglary, assault, and domestic battery. DHS also said more than 40 of the drivers possessed commercial driver’s licenses, most commonly issued by Illinois, California, and New York.
“Far too many innocent Americans have been killed by illegal aliens driving semi-trucks and big rigs,” Noem said. “And yet, sanctuary states around the country have been issuing illegal aliens commercial driver’s licenses.”
In separate cases cited by DHS, ICE arrested Akhror Bozorov, an illegal alien from Uzbekistan wanted in his home country for alleged ties to a terrorist organization, while he was working as a commercial truck driver in Kansas. In August, ICE lodged a detainer against Harjinder Singh, who was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide while driving a semi-truck in Florida.
DHS said victims of crimes involving illegal aliens may seek assistance through the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office, which can be reached at 1-855-488-6423.