Hector Balderas-Aheelor, 44, from Mexico, was arrested on Nov. 29 in San Diego County after allegedly striking the victim in a hit-and-run case.
By Catholics for Catholics
California officials are unlikely to help deport an illegal alien who is facing felony hit-and-run charges in the death of an 11-year-old boy because California is a “sanctuary state.”
Hector Balderas-Aheelor, 44, from Mexico, was arrested Nov. 29 in San Diego County after allegedly striking the victim, Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz, in front of his home in Escondido, about 30 miles northeast of San Diego, on the evening of Nov. 26, according to Escondido Police Department Lt. Craig Miller.
The Christian Post reported that the boy allegedly went into the street to get a soccer ball when he was struck. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries on Thanksgiving Day, according to police.
Balderas-Aheelor was scheduled to be deported, but the San Diego County Sheriff’s office denied an immigration detainer from federal officials, even after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said “nothing prohibits the federal government from doing its job in this case.”
“On November 29, 2025, a Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Detainer – Notice of Action (DHS Form I-247-A) was received for Hector Balderas-Aheelor (aka: Hector Amador Balderas),” said Lt. David Collins of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Governor Newsom is REFUSING to honor the ICE detainer for an illegal alien who killed an 11-year-old boy.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 3, 2025
Hector Balderas-Aheelor was previously removed FOUR times before he illegally re-entered the country and killed an 11-year-old boy in a hit-and-run. On Wednesday, November… pic.twitter.com/oxayvLPwmT
“In accordance with California Government Code 7282.5, a review of the criminal history was conducted, and the Immigration Detainer was rejected.”
Immigration officers had deported Balderas-Aheelor to Mexico on four previous instances — most recently in 2010 — yet he had illegally re-entered the U.S. several times, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused California officials of stonewalling the detainer request, citing the state’s sanctuary laws that limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
“Thanksgiving should be a day of celebrating family and giving gratitude, but instead the family of Aiden Antonio Torres De Paz mourned this beautiful child’s death because a criminal illegal alien stole his life. Now, sanctuary laws threaten to put this killer back onto California’s streets,” said DHS Asst. Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Hector Balderas-Aheelor was previously removed four times before he chose to commit a felony and illegally re-enter the country a fifth time.”
In her statement, McLaughlin urged California Gov. Gavin Newsom to “do the right thing and honor ICE’s arrest detainer.”
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