The United States Department of Homeland Security announced on July 30 that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer asking South Carolina officials not to release an illegal alien who has been charged in a fatal hit-and-run involving a 17-year-old skateboarder.
According to local reporting, the incident occurred on July 22 in Greenville, where Jose Martinez was struck by a car while riding his skateboard. The vehicle fled the scene. Police arrested Nemecio Aguilar-Hernandez, described as a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, the following day and charged him with hit-and-run involving death and driving under suspension. ICE lodged its detainer with Greenville County on July 26.
Aguilar-Hernandez’s criminal history includes two prior arrests for driving under the influence of liquor in 2009 and 2010, as well as a conviction for driving under the influence of liquor in 2012.
“This criminal illegal alien hit a 17-year-old skateboarder with his car and fled the scene of the accident,” said Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This illegal alien should have NEVER been in our country. He had already been deported from our country TWICE in the past and has a prior conviction for driving under the influence. DHS is asking officials in South Carolina to not release this illegal alien from jail, and to cooperate with ICE so that we can remove him from our country.”
According to DHS, Aguilar-Hernandez first entered the United States illegally at an unknown date and location before being deported in 2010. He re-entered illegally—a felony—at another unknown date and location before being deported again in 2012. He subsequently entered illegally for a third time at an unspecified time.