The tragic death of a 6-year-old girl in a car crash has brought the national immigration crisis to the forefront in North Carolina's 1st congressional district.
The district, spanning 25 counties, is more than 2,000 miles from the Mexican border, yet the incident has sparked heated debate over immigration policies.
The girl, Calli Toler, was killed when a car allegedly driven by Jaime Santiago Corona, a three-time deported illegal immigrant, ran a stop sign west of Vanceboro.
Corona, who was driving with a revoked license, has a history of driving while intoxicated and has been deported three times since 2019.
His case has reignited concerns over immigration enforcement and the need for stricter border security.
Laurie Buckhout, the Republican candidate seeking to unseat Democratic Rep. Don Davis, has made immigration a key issue in her campaign, citing the need for higher pay for agents and improved technology at the Mexican border.
"We need to support them more… More technology, more access roads going down to the border so that they can access the border safely," Buckhout said.
The district, which consistently ranks among the nation's poorest districts by poverty rate, has traditionally focused on economic issues.
However, Buckhout's campaign has highlighted the importance of national security and immigration enforcement, pointing to two other cases of illegal immigrants in the district.
She also emphasized the need to revitalize the local economy, which has been impacted by the decline of the tobacco and peanut industries.
Davis, a retired military officer, has supported the Laken Riley Act and emphasized the need to enforce federal immigration laws to ensure "safe communities" for Carolinians.
The incident has also raised questions about the Biden administration's immigration policies and their impact on the district.
The district's economy and national security are expected to be key issues in the upcoming election, with Buckhout and Davis vying for the seat.
The outcome of the election will likely have significant implications for the district and the nation's immigration policies.
