U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has requested that authorities in North Carolina keep an illegal immigrant, Javiel Pena Sola, behind bars in connection with a deadly hit-and-run incident that resulted in the deaths of three people.
The incident occurred on July 18 in Salisbury, where Pena Sola, a Salvadoran citizen, allegedly struck and killed three people traveling in a vehicle before fleeing the scene. A police K-9 unit was instrumental in locating Pena Sola and assisting in his apprehension.
Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third was airlifted to a hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries. Witness Quindel Woods described the scene, stating, "I heard people screaming ... and they pulled the man out; and as they pulled him out, he started screaming."
Pena Sola's vehicle was later recovered from a creek, and he has been charged with three counts of hit-and-run involving serious injury or death. ICE has lodged a detainer with local authorities to keep him in custody.
According to immigration officials, Pena Sola had been arrested in 2016 but was released. He entered the United States through Arizona in April 2022. His prior criminal history includes convictions for reckless endangerment, failure to stop after an accident, and driving without a license.
After his arrest in Maryland on charges of escaping from custody, law enforcement officials honored an ICE detainer and turned him over to federal agents in March 2016. However, he was released by the U.S. government two months later.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has expressed concern about the consequences of open borders and sanctuary policies, stating that such policies can have deadly consequences. The agency emphasizes that preventing such tragedies requires a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.
