Reporter Says Illegal Immigrant Had ‘Mostly Clean Driving Record,’ Appears to Remove Account After DHS Responds

Fatal Crash Involving Illegal Immigrant Raises Controversy

Dana Diliappo, a senior reporter for New Jersey Monitor, stated that illegal immigrants typically did not have serious driving offenses before their involvement in a crash that reportedly led to a mother and her 11-year-old daughter’s death. This was part of information shared in screenshots captured by Daily Caller.

Authorities have charged an individual in connection with the deadly incident that claimed the lives of a New Jersey mother, her young daughter, and another child, according to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The tragic event occurred when Luna Perez allegedly drove into oncoming traffic on July 26. Details about the situation were covered by New Jersey Monitor.

Diliappo referred to undocumented immigrants in now-deleted posts, noting that Raul Luna Perez was at the center of the ongoing political debate involving President Donald Trump and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

She claimed that despite having prior DUI arrests, Luna Perez maintained a mostly clean driving record. A subsequent tweet that made similar assertions appears to have been removed following a response from the official DHS account.

Critics expressed outrage, calling the defense of Luna Perez an absurd perspective. One comment emphasized that a driver with two previous DUI charges should not be described as having a clean record, especially after causing such a terrible loss.

As this unfolds, Luna Perez’s legal team has requested delays in detention hearings, citing immigration issues. A judge shifted the hearing to a later date. Under new bail reform laws in New Jersey, prosecutors now bear the burden of proving any public safety risks in order to keep defendants imprisoned before trial.

Previously, another judge had placed Luna Perez under house arrest while awaiting trial after releasing him on July 31. New charges were subsequently filed against him, which led to another hearing being scheduled.

DHS reported that Luna Perez had previously been arrested for domestic violence in 2023, and he had again faced charges related to impaired driving in 2025. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency is currently pursuing legal action against him regarding these allegations.