OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:00 PM PT — Thursday, November 21, 2019
An illegal immigrant is on the run in Mexico, and ICE is blaming an
Oregon sheriff’s office for letting him go. Alejandro
Maldonado-Hernandez fled across the border after he was arrested in July
in connection with a deadly crash in Aloha.The 20-year-old was street racing when he slammed into a Ford Fusion being driven by Patrick Ator and his wife Janace. Patrick suffered serious injuries and his wife was pronounced dead following the crash. The couple had been married for 57 years.
“When it was all over, I woke up and looked over at my wife. She wasn’t talking. I felt her pulse and there was no pulse. In my head I said, ‘Lord, why didn’t you take me too?’” – Patrick Ator, victim
Maldonado-Hernandez only suffered minor injuries and was booked into
the Washington County Jail. He was then charged with manslaughter,
assault, and reckless driving. ICE lodged an immigration detainer on him
four days after the crash However, the jail failed to honor it.“We encountered him at the jail, we interview him,” explained ICE Deputy Director Mike Melendez. “We determined we had probable cause that he was here in this country illegally and we issued an ICE detainer.”
After posting bail, Maldonado-Hernandez was released back into the community. He then fled to Mexico.
“All we ask for is a call, give us that opportunity to come pick up that individual in a secure environment of a jail,” said Melendez. “Unfortunately, we never did get that call.”
The sheriff’s office has defended its decision, suggesting a delay in his release would have been a constitutional violation on its behalf. It then argued ICE and its investigative process were the real problems.
The agency fired back, calling the illegal’s release a “real slap in the face to the victim’s friends and family.” ICE posed a loaded question to lawmakers, asking how many lives have to be lost before politicians are more concerned about public safety than their own agendas.
Exactly one year ago, voters in the state rejected Measure 105, which would have repealed Oregon’s sanctuary state status. While debates are growing over the suspect’s release, the victim’s family said they’re still just trying to heal.
“I worry that they will get away with too little, but at the same time that’s beyond me,” said Ator. “My wife and I lost our togetherness, that’s really what I’m concentrating on.”
Three people have been accused of helping Maldonado-Hernandez flee. They have been charged with hindering prosecution. Detectives are still actively working to hunt down the suspect.
