FIRST ON FOX: Texas legislators are seeking additional information from the federal government about an alleged illegal immigrant accused of killing a U.S. citizen while driving under the influence.

Jorge Peralta, 35, is accused of crashing into three vehicles Oct. 13 in a collision that killed 29-year-old Grayson Davis. Peralta is accused of fleeing and resisting arrest, according to CBSAustin,

The outlet reported that he admitted to drinking five beers before driving and is now in ICE custody.

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Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, along with state Rep. Stan Gerdes, say they were told Peralta is an illegal immigrant who was deported during the Obama administrations and Trump, but then returned illegally in 2021.

The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to its offices that it had reported the suspect to ICE and had him under surveillance.

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“When ICE gets their hands on someone, it’s because that person is a illegal immigrant, and they’re interested in it,” Sheriff Maurice Cook said.

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Now, lawmakers want to know how the suspect returned after being repeatedly deported, whether immigration authorities knew he was residing in the country and what potential law enforcement gaps allowed him to return in the United States.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but lawmakers placed blame for the problem. presence of non-citizens in the country on the Biden administration.

“Another family’s worst nightmare has come true, and it’s directly because of the Biden-Harris administration’s reckless and open border policies,” Rep. Cloud said in a statement.

“Their refusal to enforce our immigration laws has cost another innocent life. How many American citizens will have to be killed by illegal immigrants before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris decide to act?”

“Yet another Texan has died as a direct result of the Biden-Harris border crisis,” Cruz said. “Texans deserve answers about why this illegal alien was allowed back into our country after being deported twice. This crime was both infuriating and preventable, but the Biden-Harris administration made the cynical decision to keep the border open for political purposes. crimes are preventable, infuriating and unacceptable. »

Gerdes said the community is heartbroken by the tragedy and he will push for legislation to combat illegal immigration to be passed at the state level. All three lawmakers say they want a thorough investigation into the suspect’s immigration history.

This case comes in the middle of a fierce debate on illegal immigration. The Republicans linked the border crisis and subsequent crimes following the Biden administration’s rollback of Trump-era policies.

They say the end of border wall construction, the end of “Remain in Mexico” and reduced ICE deportations have encouraged increased border crossings. Former President Trump promised, if re-elected, to launch a mass deportation operation.

The Biden administration has called for passage of a bipartisan border security bill introduced in January, which many conservative Republicans opposed, to increase funding and limit some entries into the United States .

He pointed to a sharp decline in encounters at the border since President Biden signed an executive order in June limiting arrivals. Since then, the numbers have fallen by more than 55%. The agency also says it completed more than 700,000 referrals or returns in FY24, the most since 2010.

Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from Fox News’ Digital Immigration Center.

Original article source: Texas Lawmakers Demand Answers Over Deadly Crash Allegedly Caused by Illegal Immigrant: ‘Infuriating’