First on FOX: Texas lawmakers are seeking additional information from the federal government about a suspected illegal immigrant accused of killing a U.S. citizen while driving under the influence.
Jorge Peralta, 35, is accused of crashing into three cars on Oct. 13, killing 29-year-old Grayson Davis. Peralta is charged with fleeing and resisting arrest, according to CBS Austin.
The newspaper reported that he confessed to drinking five beers before driving and is currently being held as an ICE detainer.
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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) expects more information from ICE. (Getty Images)
Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with state Rep. Stan Gerdes, said Peralta is an illegal immigrant who was deported under the Obama and Trump administrations. He said he has been told that there is. He then illegally returned to Japan in 2021.
The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the suspect was reported to ICE and police have withheld charges.
“When ICE arrests someone, it’s because they’re an illegal alien and they’re interested in them,” said Sheriff Maurice Cook.
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Lawmakers are now asking how the suspect re-entered the country after being deported multiple times, whether immigration officials knew he was living in the country, and what They want to know whether potential gaps in enforcement allowed the suspect to re-enter the United States.
ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but lawmakers said the Biden administration is responsible for keeping noncitizens in the country.
This division map shows Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Michael Cloud, and the border wall. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
“Once again, this family’s worst nightmare has come true, and it is directly attributable to the Biden-Harris administration’s reckless open border policies,” Congressman Cloud said in a statement.
“Their refusal to enforce immigration laws has cost yet another innocent life. How many more Americans will have to be killed by illegal immigrants before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris decide to act? Shouldn’t it?”
“Another Texan has died as a direct result of the Biden-Harris border crisis,” Cruz said. “Texans deserve answers as to why this illegal alien was allowed to return to our country after being deported twice. This crime was both infuriating and avoidable. The Biden-Harris administration has made the cynical decision to keep the border open for political purposes. The resulting crime is avoidable, but infuriating and unacceptable.”
Gerdes said the community is “heartbroken” by the tragedy and will push for legislation to address illegal immigration at the state level. All three lawmakers have said they want a full investigation into the suspect’s immigration history.
The incident occurred amid a heated debate over illegal immigration. Republicans have linked the border crisis and resulting crimes to the Biden administration’s rollback of Trump-era policies.
They say the end of border wall construction, the end of “Remain in Mexico,” and the reduction of ICE deportations are driving the increase in border crossings. Former President Trump promised to launch a large-scale deportation operation if re-elected.
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The Biden administration is seeking passage of a bipartisan border security bill introduced in January to increase funding and limit some people’s entry into the United States, but many conservative Republicans oppose it.
They point to a sharp decline in border encounters since President Biden signed an executive order restricting immigration in June. Since then, that number has fallen by more than 55%. The agency also announced that it completed more than 700,000 removals or returns in fiscal 2010, the most since 2010.
Get the latest information on the ongoing border crisis from Fox News Digital’s Immigration Hub.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
Contact him at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at: Twitter.
