DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an immigration detainer on the man accused of causing a fatal crash in Clark County last week, according to an ICE spokesperson.
Edwin Pacheco-Meza is facing several charges, including reckless homicide, following a crash in Westfield that left two people dead and two others hurt.
Pacheco-Meza, according to ICE, is not in the country legally. ICE said he's from Honduras.
The crash killed Coles County Board Member Michael Clayton and his wife Gail Clayton.
According to police, Pacheco-Meza was driving a conversion van when he crossed the center line and hit a vehicle carrying the Clayton's head-on. Meza and the 18-year-old passenger in his vehicle were not hurt.
An ICE spokesperson told WAND News the passenger, Juan Morales Martinez, is from Guatemala and is "being processed to face immigration proceedings."
Illinois State Police previously said Pacheco-Meza was from Indianapolis. WAND News asked if the reason ISP cited Indianapolis is because of a last known address or what Pacheco-Meza told them. The agency has declined further comment on Pacheco-Meza's immigration status due to state law prohibiting a law enforcement agency from asking about or investigating a person's immigration status.
Some Illinois lawmakers began making statements Monday about the immigration status of Pacheco-Meza.
State Rep. Adam Neimerg (R-Dieterich) said in a social media post, "The driver who hit Coles County Board member Mike Clayton and his wife Gail was in the U.S. illegally," Neimerg wrote. "Governor J.B. Pritzker's reckless policies keep putting Illinois families at risk."
State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) claimed Pritzker refuses to fix laws that prioritize undocumented immigrants and criminals over citizens.
"The Claytons are, at least, the 5th and 6th DUI related death in east central Illinois by an illegal in as many years," Rose said. He didn't elaborate further on what policies may have led to the tragic deaths.
Recent immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago are called Operation Midway Blitz, according to the Department of Homeland Security. When the operation started, DHS said it was to honor Katie Abraham, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Urbana in January. The suspect, Julio Cuco Bol, was arrested several days later. Urbana police said Bol initially provided them a false name and admitted he was from Guatemala.
Tuesday, Coles County Board Chair Darrell Cox hosted a press conference about the fatal crash and Pacheco-Meza's immigration status.
"My friends, Mike and Gail Clayton, are dead because of broken immigration policies," Cox said.
A request for comment from Gov. Pritzker's office has not been returned.
"President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal aliens to walk freely on U.S. streets," an ICE spokesperson told WAND News on Tuesday. "ICE will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing alien offenders from the U.S."
Pacheco-Meza is facing charges of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI. He was denied pre-trial release in a hearing on Monday. He's expected back in court on Nov. 17.
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