In another incident endangering public safety, a sanctuary state released a previously deported Mexican national who caused a major wreck involving a school bus.
The individual was driving a semitruck without a commercial driver’s license (CDL), according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Washington authorities ignored a lawful detainer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and released the person.
Juan Hernandez-Santos is among numerous illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles on U.S. highways without proper licensing or documentation.
On December 4, Hernandez-Santos crashed his semitruck in Lacey, Washington, causing a six-car pile-up that involved a school bus. Three motorists were hospitalized as a result of the crash. Thankfully, no children were in the bus.
DHS reported that Hernandez-Santos has a history of repeated border crossings and multiple criminal convictions. He was deported from the United States on February 24, 2005, but re-entered illegally in what DHS described as a felony, leading to his removal again on June 7, 2006. He subsequently crossed the border once more.
Hernandez-Santos has a criminal record that includes:
– A May 24, 2008 arrest by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office for driving without a license.
– An arrest on June 7, 2008, in California for driving under the influence and hit-and-run with property damage.
– A November 2, 2018, charge for possession of a controlled substance.
– A February 24, 2020, arrest by Los Angeles Police Department for driving under the influence.
The Washington State Patrol confirmed that Hernandez-Santos did not hold a commercial driver’s license from Mexico, the United States, or the state of Washington. According to a spokesperson, Chris Loftis: “The gentleman was at fault in the accident, initially slamming into the back of a vehicle which had slowed for traffic, triggering a chain reaction crash.”
Loftis noted that they do not participate in immigration enforcement and cannot confirm the individual’s legal status without being part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
DHS stated that authorities released Hernandez-Santos despite having a lawful detainer from ICE, calling him a “walking public safety threat.” A DHS official described his history as including multiple DUIs, possession of controlled substances, and two prior removals from the U.S.
Washington has been criticized for issuing CDLs to individuals without proper eligibility. For example, the state granted a CDL to Harjinder Singh, an Indian national who caused a fatal crash in Florida after making an illegal U-turn. Singh failed an English test following the incident.
Another individual, Jashanpreet Singh, an Indian national described as a “Biden migrant,” killed three people in California while driving under the influence and possessed a REAL ID illegally.
In October, ICE and Oklahoma authorities apprehended 91 illegal aliens with CDLs, including individuals charged with driving under the influence, assault, drug crimes, money laundering, and human smuggling. One of these individuals held a New York CDL with a surname listed as “No Name Given.”
A recent example involves Akhror Bozorov, 31, an Uzbek national who was arrested by ICE in Kansas on November 9. Authorities reported that he was wanted for membership in a terror outfit and accused of distributing terrorist propaganda online and recruiting terrorists.
Bozorov crossed the border illegally in February 2023, coinciding with high levels of migration during Biden’s administration. He was released after being apprehended by U.S. authorities.
