Reckless sanctuary laws result in needless death of innocent American

CHICAGO — An illegal alien from Guatemala with a longstanding criminal record, killed an innocent Illinois woman in a head-on vehicle collision, Aug. 9, after local authorities were unable to transfer custody of the dangerous alien at least seven separate times over the last three years.

Rolando Ico-Choc, 30, was arrested repeatedly for driving under the influence and other serious offenses, including endangering the life of a child, domestic battery, resisting law enforcement, multiple DUIs, and operating uninsured vehicles. Despite his repeated disregard for the law and continued danger to the public, local jurisdictions were unable to transfer him to federal custody, due to irresponsible sanctuary laws.

Following the repeat offenders most recent DUI conviction, in January, he was sentenced to just seven days in jail – and just as the six previous occurrences he was released back into the community.

A short seven months later, while driving southbound on Illinois Route 26, Ico-Choc crossed into the northbound lane and slammed head-on into a vehicle driven by Darcy Brunner, 61, of Freeport, Illinois. Brunner, a U.S. citizen died instantly.

“This was not an innocent accident. It was a preventable tragedy made possible by policies that release dangerous offenders back onto our streets,” said ERO Chicago acting Field Office Director Shawn Byers. “Seven times ICE asked for custody, and seven times local law enforcement was forced to ignore those requests placing the death of this innocent women directly on the hands of those who voted the Illinois Trust Act into law.”

ICE detainers are requests to local law enforcement to hold individuals in custody for up to 48 hours so federal officers can take them into immigration custody. When ignored, dangerous offenders like Ico-Choc are released back into the community, often with deadly results.

“How many more lives must be lost before Illinois lawmakers care enough about their constituents to ensure all law enforcement, federal and local are able to work together?” concluded Byers.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROChicago.