Felony Hit-and-Run Charge for Illegal Immigrant
Hector Balderas-Aheelor, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, faces serious charges following a fatal hit-and-run incident. This marks his fifth illegal re-entry into the U.S. after being deported four times prior.
The tragic event occurred on November 26th, just before Thanksgiving. Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz, an 11-year-old boy, was struck by a car while trying to retrieve his soccer ball from the street near his home in Escondido, California.
According to authorities, Balderas-Aheelor was driving the vehicle that hit Aiden, who later succumbed to his injuries at Rady Children’s Hospital on Thanksgiving Day. Aiden’s mother, María de Paz, rushed outside upon hearing the crash, only to find her son unconscious on the ground.
“People came to help me, but no one saw anything,” she shared with a local news outlet. “The car just fled. They hit him and didn’t stop.”
Irene Gonzalez, a neighbor and family friend, expressed how the family’s sorrow overshadowed what should have been a day of thanks. “It’s hard to give thanks. We’re thankful that Aiden is no longer in pain, but this situation is just heartbreaking,” she said.
The specifics of Balderas-Aheelor’s speed are unclear, although the area’s speed limit was 35 miles per hour.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, condemned the incident. “Thanksgiving should celebrate family, yet Aiden’s family is mourning due to a criminal who took his life,” she stated. “We’re urging Governor Gavin Newsom to take action regarding this case.”
On November 29, 2025, DHS issued a detainer notice for Balderas-Aheelor, but, per Lieutenant David Collins from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, California law led to the rejection of the detainer after a review of his criminal history.
Currently, Balderas-Aheelor is being held at the Rock Mountain Detention Facility with a bond set at $100,000. His history indicates he has been deported on multiple occasions—specifically on March 19, 2004, June 10, 2004, June 15, 2004, and March 4, 2010.
In a statement, a representative for Governor Newsom commented, “Unlawfully returning to the U.S. after deportation is a federal offense, yet California respects federal warrants.”
Balderas-Aheelor’s arraignment is set for Wednesday in North Division Court.
