The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged an arrest detainer against a Honduran illegal alien involved in a fatal car accident in Dane County, Wisconsin. The incident, which occurred on July 20, 2025, resulted in the deaths of two American teenagers.
According to local reports, Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila drove in the wrong direction on a highway while intoxicated and collided with another vehicle. The crash killed 18-year-old Hallie Helgeson at the scene and gravely injured 19-year-old Brady Heiling, who later died from his injuries on July 25, 2025.
Martinez-Avila faces charges of felony vehicular homicide and impaired driving by Wisconsin law enforcement. ICE's arrest detainer seeks her removal from the United States.
Dane County, where this tragic event occurred, is known for its sanctuary jurisdiction policies that historically have not honored ICE detainers. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented on the situation: “Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them—and they would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila—a criminal illegal alien from Honduras." She added that "ICE has lodged an arrest detainer to remove this public safety threat from the U.S."
Under Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, DHS is committed to ensuring justice for these victims. Additionally, the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office offers support to victims of illegal alien crime through their hotline.
