Israel Alejandro Gonzalez-Arcinega : “Illegal Alien Kills 2 Children, Released Despite ICE Detainer”

Connecticut law enforcement officials have faced criticism after releasing an illegal immigrant convicted of killing two young children in a drunk driving accident, despite a detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE agents arrested the man, identified as Israel Alejandro Gonzalez-Arcinega, 40, a Mexican national who was convicted 10 years ago of two counts of manslaughter, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and other crimes in Connecticut. The agency made the announcement in a press release on Monday.

ICE Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at Boston Field Office, Todd M. Lyons, expressed disappointment in the decision to release Gonzalez. “Israel Gonzalez was convicted of driving under the influence and killing two Connecticut children. His actions shattered a family,” Lyons said in a statement. He emphasized the importance of not allowing unlawfully present convicted felons to victimize communities.

Gonzalez was involved in a car crash in Meriden, Connecticut, in 2013 that resulted in the death of two children and injuries to others. He fled the scene after the crash, which claimed the lives of an 8-year-old boy and his 5-year-old sister, and left their parents hospitalized.

Despite an immigration detainer lodged by ICE immediately after his arrest, Gonzalez was released by the Connecticut Department of Corrections on April 2 without notifying ICE. However, deportation officers were able to arrest him on May 1 during a vehicle stop in Meriden.

ICE has been actively working to apprehend and remove criminal illegal immigrants, even in the face of resistance from various states and jurisdictions. The agency has been particularly critical of New England communities that have refused to honor detainer requests.

Connecticut has been identified as a “sanctuary” jurisdiction, with legislation enacted in 2019 that restricts local law enforcement from holding illegal aliens on immigration detainers without a warrant signed by a judge for serious felony cases or individuals on a terrorist watch list.

The Center for Immigration Studies highlights Connecticut’s sanctuary status, pointing to laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts. The Connecticut Department of Corrections did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

This article was originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.