Undocumented Immigrant Released Into U.S. in 2023 Charged With Killing Motorist During Police Pursuit in California
Darwin Felipe Bahamon Martinez, a 21-year-old Colombian national, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony evading causing death following a high-speed police pursuit that ended in a fatal crash in Placentia, California. The incident has ignited fresh controversy regarding federal immigration policies, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials confirmed that Martinez had been released into the United States in 2023 under current administration protocols.
The collision occurred on January 21, 2026, after Anaheim police attempted to stop Martinez for reckless driving. Authorities allege Martinez fled the scene, initiating a chase that concluded when his Jeep Gladiator collided with a Honda sedan. The crash claimed the life of the Honda’s driver, 59-year-old Jose Antonio Ramos Hernandez, a local father. An 83-year-old woman in a separate vehicle was also injured in the wreck.
Immigration Status and Federal Release
A significant focus of the investigation involves Martinez’s immigration history. According to ICE’s Los Angeles field office, Martinez illegally entered the United States near Chula Vista, California, in August 2023. Following his initial apprehension, federal authorities processed and released him into the interior of the country with a notice to appear for future immigration proceedings—a practice critics often refer to as “catch and release.”
In a statement, ICE officials linked the tragedy directly to these entry policies, asserting that had Martinez remained in custody upon his 2023 entry, “the innocent 59-year-old driver he allegedly killed may still be alive today.” ICE has since lodged a detainer against Martinez, requesting that local authorities transfer him to federal custody if he is released from local jail.
Sanctuary State Laws and Jurisdictional Disputes
The case has highlighted the ongoing friction between federal immigration enforcement and California’s state laws. Under the California Values Act (SB 54), often referred to as the “sanctuary state” law, local law enforcement agencies are generally restricted from using their resources to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes. This often prevents local jails from honoring ICE detainers unless specific serious criminal conditions are met.
Critics of the sanctuary policy argue that it endangers public safety by shielding individuals with criminal charges from deportation. Conversely, proponents of SB 54 maintain that the law is necessary to foster trust between immigrant communities and local police, arguing that state resources should not be commandeered for federal civil immigration enforcement.
Martinez is currently being held in Orange County, awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces significant prison time, after which he would likely face deportation proceedings.
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