A foreign national in Honduras is facing deportation following a drunk driving incident that led to the deaths of two teenagers in Dane County, Wisconsin.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has communicated that Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) has initiated custody proceedings against 30-year-old Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila.
“Harry Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them, and if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila, a non-criminal foreigner in Honduras, they might still be alive,” someone commented. “Martinez-Avila drove recklessly on the wrong side of the highway, resulting in the tragic deaths of these two teens while under the influence.”
“ICE has filed for the arrest of this public safety threat to remove her from the U.S.,” the statement continued. “Unfortunately, this sanctuary jurisdiction often fails to honor ICE detainers, which sometimes means the release of serious offenders. Under Secretary Noem, we won’t let these victims be forgotten; justice will be sought.”
Martinez-Avila faces multiple charges, including murder for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and with a broken license.
According to the West Central Tribune, Martinez-Avila drove in the wrong direction on I-90 through the Chevrolet suburbs.
Helgeson died shortly after the crash, while Heiling was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.
Sadly, Heiling later succumbed to his injuries.
It was noted that Martinez-Avila had a prior conviction for drunk driving in 2020 and was mandated to have an interlock device installed in her vehicle, which should have prevented the car from starting if she had been drinking. However, reports from the Wisconsin Journal indicated that this device was not in place during last week’s incident.
Court documents reveal that bail is set at $250,000 per case, with Martinez-Avila only allowed to be released if she meets certain pretrial service conditions.
Moreover, she is prohibited from contacting the victims’ families, both if she is released and if she is removed from the U.S.
The DHS confirmed that ICE is pursuing Martinez-Avila’s detention and removal, emphasizing the challenges posed by Dane County’s sanctuary policies.
