U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed an arrest detainer for Edwin Pacheco-Meza, a 34-year-old Honduran national accused of causing a fatal car crash that killed Michael Clayton, a Coles County Board Member in Illinois, and his wife, Gail Clayton. According to ICE, local authorities discovered an extended magazine, ammunition, drugs, and an open container of alcohol in the vehicle following the incident.
Both Pacheco-Meza and his passenger, Juan Morales-Martinez—a Guatemalan national aged 18—were arrested by local authorities. Pacheco-Meza faces charges of reckless homicide and driving under the influence. Morales-Martinez is charged with drug possession and a weapons offense.
ICE lodged a detainer request with Clark County Jail after their arrests; however, the jail did not honor this request due to Illinois sanctuary policies. Despite this lack of cooperation from local authorities, ICE officers apprehended Morales-Martinez outside the Clark County Jail on October 27.
"Two innocents were killed because this criminal illegal alien chose to drive under the influence," said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "President Trump and Secretary Noem have unleashed ICE and CBP in Illinois to restore law-and-order and remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities. Anyone who is in the U.S. illegally and thinks they can roam free while breaking our laws and harming Americans is in for a rude awakening. If you are in our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, arrest you, remove you, and you will never return."
Authorities report that Pacheco-Meza entered the United States at an unknown date or time. Morales-Martinez entered illegally in December 2023; he was released into the country by federal authorities under previous administration policies.
The statement from ICE emphasized concerns over sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration officials. The agency argues these policies increase risks by allowing individuals accused of crimes to be released back into communities rather than being turned over for potential removal proceedings.
Under current leadership at both DHS and ICE, officials state they are focused on enforcing immigration laws despite challenges posed by sanctuary jurisdictions.
