The Colorado illegal immigrant, who has been deported multiple times, is now accused of killing a mother and son in a car crash, but police say alcohol was involved and bail is set at cash. The price is set at $250,000.
Jose Guadalupe Menjivar-Arras appeared in virtual court Thursday from the Bloomfield County Jail, but the judge cited community safety concerns and doubts about his ability to appear for future court dates in setting the amount. was cited as the reason.
“The mere possibility of Mr. Menijival being deported if he posts bail is of great concern,” the judge said at one point during the hearing.
Menjivar-Arras had multiple DWI convictions before his arrest last month.
Illegal immigrant suspected of killing mother and child in drunk driving accident despite being deported four times
Jose Guadalupe Menjivar-Arras will appear virtually in Bloomfield County Combined Court on Thursday, January 18th. (Bloomfield County Combined Court)
The Bloomfield Police Department on Dec. 15 took a 37-year-old man into custody in connection with a fatal crash at Main Street and Miramonte Boulevard three days earlier.
The Toyota Tundra being driven by Menjivar-Aras collided with a Mazda CX-5 driven by 47-year-old Melissa Powell. Powell's 16-year-old son, Riordan, was also in the Mazda and both died in the crash.
Upon investigating the crash, detectives believed alcohol and speed contributed to the crash.
Menjivar-Aras was taken to a local hospital after the accident, and upon his release was booked into the Bloomfield County Jail, where he was charged with DUI, reckless driving vehicular homicide, DUI vehicular homicide, and a habitual traffic offender. was specified.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told FOX News Digital that Menjivar-Arras, a Salvadoran national, has been deported from the United States four times.
Colorado state trooper charged with woman's murder allegedly had severed hand in pocket during arrest
Jose Guadalupe Menjivar-Arras is pictured in the booking photo. (Broomfield Police Department)
“ICE records indicate that the subject has been previously removed and does not take into account immigration law,” an ICE spokesperson said.
Menjivar-Arras was first convicted of drunk driving on August 4, 2007, and was later convicted of the same offense on December 7, 2016 and May 7, 2019. She was also convicted of drunk driving on September 16, 2007.
An immigration judge issued Mr. Menjivar-Arras' first removal order on April 14, 2009.
He was subsequently deported from the United States in June 2009, June 2013, November 2014, and January 2015.
Despite being deported, Menjivar-Arras continued to return home.
The Bloomfield Police Department arrested Jose Guadalupe Menjivar-Arras in December 2023. (Broomfield Police Department)
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According to ICE, the Denver field office filed an immigration detention complaint with Bloomfield County on Dec. 18, 2023.
FOX News' Nicole Wright contributed to this report.
