An undocumented immigrant, previously released by the Biden administration, is believed to have fatally struck an innocent driver during a police pursuit in California last month, according to authorities.
Darwin Felipe Bahamon Martinez, a 21-year-old from Colombia, was apprehended in August 2023 after crossing illegally into the U.S. from Mexico, yet he was permitted to remain free, as noted by ICE.
On January 21, he allegedly led police on a three-minute chase in Anaheim after being pulled over for reckless driving, as reported by local news.
Bahamón Martinez subsequently collided with two vehicles in Placentia, resulting in the death of his father, Jose Antonio Ramos Hernandez, 59, and injuring an 83-year-old woman.
ICE stated that his release under the administration’s “catch and release” policy could mean that, if things had been different, the 59-year-old driver he’s accused of killing might still be alive.
Bahamón Martinez faces multiple charges, including vehicular manslaughter and eluding a police officer, and is currently held at the Orange County Jail on a $2 million bail.
After filing an immigration detainer complaint on January 22, ICE pointed out that California’s sanctuary laws prevent local officials from transferring undocumented immigrants facing criminal charges to federal custody.
ICE further emphasized that if local authorities choose to release him back into the community, it poses a risk to all Californians, urging the state to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
