The devastating crash in Lakewood that claimed the lives of a mother and her 11-year-old daughter has renewed criticism of New Jersey’s sanctuary policies and prompted sharp rebuke from federal officials toward Governor Phil Murphy’s administration.
The driver, identified as Raul Luna Perez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was arrested on July 27, 2025, after allegedly crossing into oncoming traffic and striking another vehicle head-on. He was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of assault. A second child in the car was hospitalized with injuries.
Federal immigration officials say the tragedy could have been prevented.
Perez had a history of arrests in New Jersey:
June 25, 2023 – Arrested by Red Bank Police for domestic violence
March 20, 2025 – Arrested for driving under the influence (DUI)
April 17, 2025 – Arrested for a second DUI
Despite these charges, Perez was released back into the community each time. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) states that due to New Jersey’s sanctuary policies, local law enforcement did not notify them or honor detainer requests.
On July 28, ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Perez and initiated removal proceedings while he remains in custody on the vehicular homicide charges.
In a strongly worded statement, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said:
“Governor Murphy and his sanctuary policies released this serial criminal into New Jersey communities. Now, this innocent family is shattered by their failed leadership. President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to do everything in their power to remove these criminal illegal aliens before they destroy more lives.”
The Department of Homeland Security says it is working to prevent further tragedies and encourages families impacted by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants to reach out to the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office at 1-855-488-6423.
Governor Murphy’s office has not yet issued a response to the allegations or the ICE statement.
Maria was a very well liked and kind woman. The Lakewood and Howell police had to work together to reduce Route 9 to one lane for thru traffic because the turnout for the service for Maria and her daughter at Lakewood Funeral Home Saturday was so immense. (Thank you to the Scoop for posting a GoFund me for them on your social media)
I assumed the legal process for this man’s DUIs had not been completed and that was why he was able to still drive a car. I am appalled to see he had a 2023 arrest for domestic violence. It reinforces the feeling that this was a preventable tragedy.
I will continue to pray for Xiomara as she tries to complete her education at Lakewood High School without her mother and sister.
Illegal aliens have no right to drive cars in the US and he should have been deported in 2023.
Democrats with their sanctuary city/state policies are responsible for every single death perpetrated/caused by the illegal aliens they free on to the streets. Anyone voting for a democratic party politician is voting for more of the same.
Republicans are responsible for every death caused by their anti gun control policies . Every mass killing and every school shooting. They are responsible for 100 times more Americans dying than from illegal immigrants.
More stupidity, guns don’t kill people unlike illegal aliens who do. Also people with guns save multiple times more people each year than people killed with guns.
Illegal alien drunk driver who should have been deported in 2023 yet was allowed to stay and drunk drive again and again due to NJ Democrats sanctuary state policies which puts illegal aliens above law abiding citizens, and now 2 innocents are dead. In November we have the chance to stop the democrats anti constitutional agenda, pro illegal alien agenda, and wasteful anti President Trump agenda. Every vote counts.