A man accused of causing a deadly DUI crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old in Mobile, Alabama, is in the United States illegally, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
ICE confirmed that an immigration detainer has been issued for Franklin Oriel Fajardo-Arana, who the agency identified as “an illegal alien from Honduras.” He was arrested Monday by the Mobile Police Department following the fatal accident.
“ICE remains committed to prioritizing the arrest and removal of criminal illegal aliens who pose threats to public safety,” said Scott Ladwig, acting field office director for ICE’s New Orleans office. “This case underscores the critical importance of ICE’s partnerships with local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws and endangered our communities.”
According to ICE, Mobile police responded Sunday to a collision involving a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota 4Runner. The 4Runner reportedly flipped onto its side, killing a 16-year-old passenger at the scene.
On the same day, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New Orleans issued an immigration detainer to the Mobile County Metro Jail, ensuring that Fajardo-Arana will be transferred to ICE custody once he is released from local detention.
ICE also said that the Fairfield Police Department in Kentucky has an active in-state warrant for Fajardo-Arana related to a separate DUI offense.
Fajardo-Arana is facing DUI manslaughter charges, according to the agency. The Mobile Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Thursday.
Local barber Ernest Williams, who witnessed the crash, told WALA-TV that he and others rushed to help moments after hearing the impact.
“We instantly ran over there to see what was going on,” Williams said. “We got the driver out and pushed the vehicle up to get the victim from under it.”
Williams said learning of the teen’s death left him heartbroken.
“Now that I know he passed away, it kind of makes it seem like you didn’t do enough,” he added. “But we were just there to help however we could.”
The case remains under investigation by local authorities in coordination with federal immigration officials.
